What to do when thunder rumbles. Why does thunder rumble

Thunderstorm is a frightening phenomenon. No matter where we are. At home or on the street. It's still scary. Dazzling glare, rolling rumble are frightening. Sounds seem to catch up with each other, now approaching, then moving away. In ancient times, people considered the roar of heaven to be the wrath of the gods. And lightning - a punishing sword. But we understand that these phenomena have a more earthly explanation. Why does thunder rumble? Why is he inseparable from lightning? Why does it rain during a thunderstorm?

How are thunderclouds formed?

IN atmospheric air there is water. As a couple. Under the influence of high air temperature, warm steam rises from the water surface of the earth. Warm air pushes it in from below.

Temperatures are lower in the upper layers of the atmosphere. The higher the water vapor rises, the colder it becomes around it. Accordingly, it cools down.

The atmosphere contains more than just gases and water. There is also dust. The cooled steam condenses around its smallest particles. Small water droplets and ice floes turn into clouds. They are different. In the form of feathers or huge piles, white stripes on the heavenly slope or torn rags.

Thunderclouds are formed due to the collision of air masses. Then many, many water crystals gather in the upper part. It turns out a kind of white dense veil. It illuminates the whole cloud with cold, which acquires a rich shade of lead. That is why we call such clouds “lead”, “heavy”.

Spawn of thunder and lightning

Thunderclouds spawn glimmers. And lightning, in turn, is a celestial roar. How does this happen? Why does thunder rumble?

1. Droplets and ice particles at the top of a thundercloud interact with air molecules and are charged with electricity. When they get heavy, they fall down. So the lower part of the cloud becomes negatively charged.

2. At the same time, a positive charge accumulates at the top of the cloud. Plus and minus attract.

3. Under the influence of the attraction of positive and negative, tension arises. Given the size of the cloud (up to ten kilometers wide), this voltage reaches hundreds of millions of volts. This is how lightning is born.

4. A spark emerging from a cloud follows to the ground. Its temperature is huge - more than twenty degrees. As a result of the rapid movement of the fiery arrow, great pressure is created in the atmosphere. And immediately behind it, the air is sharply compressed, returning to its original state. It makes an explosive sound. This is how thunder is born.

FAQ:

Why do we see lightning first and then hear the sound of thunder?

Because the speed of light is hundreds of millions of times greater than the speed of sound.

Why do we hear thunder?

Because sound waves meet various obstacles on their way (clouds, earth) and are reflected from them. This happens multiple times. Hence the rolling thunder sounds.

Sometimes we see a bliskavitsa, but we do not hear peals. Why?

The storm is too far away from us, more than twenty kilometers.

Storm - atmospheric phenomenon although not as rare as, for example, the northern lights or the fires of St. Elmo, but no less bright and impressive with its indomitable strength and primordial power. It is not for nothing that all romantic poets and prose writers love to describe it so much in their works, and professional revolutionaries see a thunderstorm as a symbol of popular unrest and serious social upheavals. From a scientific point of view, a thunderstorm is a heavy rain, accompanied by a squally increase in wind, lightning and thunder. But, if you probably already understand everything with a shower and wind, then it’s worth telling a little more about the other components of a thunderstorm.

What is thunder and lightning

Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge in the atmosphere, which can occur both between individual cumulus clouds and between rain clouds and the ground. Lightning is a kind of giant electric arc, the length of which is on average 2.5 - 3 kilometers. The incredible power of lightning is evidenced by the fact that the current in the discharge reaches tens of thousands of amperes, and the voltage reaches several million volts. Considering that such fantastic power is released within a few milliseconds, a lightning strike can be called a kind of electrical explosion of incredible force. It is clear that such a detonation inevitably causes the appearance of a shock wave, which then degenerates into a sound wave and attenuates as it propagates in the air. Thus it becomes obvious what thunder is.

Thunder is sound vibrations that occur in the atmosphere under the influence of a shock wave caused by a powerful electrical discharge. Taking into account the fact that the air in the lightning channel instantly heats up to a temperature of about 20 thousand degrees, which exceeds the temperature of the surface of the Sun, such a discharge is inevitably accompanied by a deafening roar, like any other very powerful explosion. But after all, lightning lasts less than a second, and we hear thunder in long peals. Why does this happen, why does the thunder rumble? Atmospheric scientists have an answer to this question as well.

Why do we hear thunder

Thunder rolls occur in the atmosphere due to the fact that lightning, as we have already said, is very long and therefore the sound from its various parts does not reach our ear at the same time, although we see the light flash itself in its entirety at one moment. In addition, the occurrence of thunder peals is facilitated by the reflection of sound waves from clouds and the surface of the earth, as well as their refraction and scattering.

Why the thunder seems to be rumbling and everyone knows, but it’s somehow difficult to explain this fact. Of course, we are not ancient people and we no longer believe in the wrath of the gods, at least in its present manifestation. Everything in nature, including thunder, has its own natural cause.

A bit of history

Of course, thunderclouds look impressive and even menacing in some ways. And when they are cut by the dazzling brilliance of lightning and a massive roll of thunder is heard, the whole force of natural phenomena becomes visible with one's own eyes. At such moments, a person is especially keenly aware of his insignificance. But this was mostly due to the fact that people did not know the reasons for what was happening. They came up with a deity who showed his anger to humanity in this way. About the pantheon of the gods of what civilization would not have been discussed, but everywhere there was a thunderer and he ruled everyone, was the strongest of the gods. Now in none of the world religions there is no indication that this a natural phenomenon has a supernatural basis. People have studied and explained everything they feared for centuries.

Why does thunder happen in nature?

So, a bolt from the blue is nothing more than a metaphorical phrase. It doesn't really exist, it's nonsense. Therefore, it is inextricably linked with a thunderstorm and the corresponding type of clouds. There are several various types clouds are mother-of-pearl, cirrus, cirrocumulus and cumulus. They all differ from each other in appearance and structural features. It is a thundercloud that, as a rule, arises in the process of collision of various air masses. In this form, clouds, especially in the upper part of it, form a large number of tiny ice crystals. Thanks to this process, the entire upper part of the cloud begins to be covered with a specific white veil, and the cloud itself slowly, gradually acquires an increasingly dark, like lead color.

Well, so to speak, the ground for lightning and the thunder that invariably accompanies it is already ready. Water droplets point-to-point touch ice needles and air particles, as a result of all this they quickly become electrified. When the water along with the ice becomes heavy enough to overcome the resistance from the air, it begins to fall down, thereby transferring its negative charge from the top to the bottom of the thundercloud. So it's raining. There is a parallel accumulation of negative charges at the bottom and positive charges at the top of the thundercloud. Remembering a little some school lessons in physics, you can easily guess what happens next: the top and bottom of the cloud begin to attract each other with increasing force. This is how a voltage arises, sometimes just a colossal power of tens or even hundreds of millions of volts, in fact, it generates a spark - what we call lightning. She immediately rushes to the ground. But at the same time, it greatly heats up the air around it, yet its temperature can be up to 25,000 ° C, and thereby creates pressure. As soon as it has passed, the air is compressed again. But this compression is accompanied by a sort of crackling sound. This is the thunder. We hear it in waves, so to speak, peals, because from the physics course at school we remember that a sound wave is reflected more than once from the surface, both clouds and the earth. There is little time between light and sound. It's just the speed of sound.

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Just recently, a clear, clear sky was covered with clouds. The first drops of rain fell. And soon the elements demonstrated their strength to the earth. Thunder and lightning pierced the stormy sky. Where do such phenomena come from? Mankind has seen in them a manifestation of divine power for many centuries. Today we know about the occurrence of such phenomena.

Origin of thunderclouds

Clouds appear in the sky from condensation rising high above the ground and hover in the sky. Clouds are heavier and larger. They bring with them all the "special effects" inherent in bad weather.

Thunderclouds differ from ordinary ones in the presence of a charge of electricity. Moreover, there are clouds with a positive charge, and there are with a negative one.

To understand where thunder and lightning come from, one should rise higher above the earth. In the sky, where there are no obstacles for free flight, the winds blow stronger than on the ground. It is they who provoke the charge in the clouds.

The origin of thunder and lightning can be explained by just one drop of water. It has a positive charge of electricity in the center and a negative charge on the outside. The wind breaks it apart. One of them remains with a negative charge and has less weight. Heavier positively charged drops form the same clouds.

Rain and electricity

Before thunder and lightning appear in a stormy sky, the wind separates the clouds into positively and negatively charged ones. Rain falling on the ground carries some of this electricity with it. An attraction is formed between the cloud and the surface of the earth.

The negative charge of the cloud will attract the positive on the ground. This attraction will be located evenly on all surfaces that are on a hill and conduct current.

And now the rain creates all the conditions for the appearance of thunder and lightning. The higher the object is to the cloud, the easier it is for lightning to break through to it.

Origin of lightning

The weather has prepared all the conditions that will help to appear all its effects. She created the clouds from which thunder and lightning come.

The roof, charged with negative electricity, attracts the positive charge of the most exalted object to itself. Its negative electricity will go into the ground.

Both of these opposites tend to be attracted to each other. The more electricity in the cloud, the more it is in the most sublime object.

Accumulating in a cloud, electricity can break through the layer of air between it and the object, and sparkling lightning will appear, thunder will rumble.

How lightning develops

When a thunderstorm rages, lightning, thunder accompany it incessantly. Most often, the spark comes from a negatively charged cloud. It develops gradually.

First, a small stream of electrons flows from the cloud through a channel directed to the ground. In this place, the clouds accumulate electrons moving at high speed. Due to this, the electrons collide with air atoms and break them. Separate nuclei are obtained, as well as electrons. The latter also rush to the ground. While they are moving along the channel, all the primary and secondary electrons again split the air atoms that stand in their way into nuclei and electrons.

The whole process is like an avalanche. He is moving upwards. The air warms up, its conductivity increases.

More and more electricity from the cloud flows to the ground at a speed of 100 km / s. At this moment, lightning breaks a channel to the ground. On this road, laid by the leader, electricity begins to flow even faster. There is a discharge that has tremendous power. Reaching its peak, the discharge decreases. The channel warmed up like this powerful current, glows. And you can see lightning in the sky. Such a discharge does not last long.

The first discharge is often followed by a second one along the laid channel.

How does thunder appear

Thunder, lightning, rain are inseparable during a thunderstorm.

Thunder occurs for the following reason. The current in the lightning channel is formed very quickly. The air is very hot during this. This is why it expands.

It happens so fast that it looks like an explosion. Such a push shakes the air violently. These vibrations lead to the appearance of a loud sound. That's where lightning and thunder come from.

As soon as the electricity from the cloud reaches the ground and disappears from the channel, it cools very quickly. The compression of air also results in thunder.

The more lightning passed through the channel (there can be up to 50 of them), the longer the air shaking. This sound is reflected from objects and clouds, and an echo occurs.

Why is there an interval between lightning and thunder

In a thunderstorm, lightning is followed by thunder. Its delay from lightning is due to the different speeds of their movement. Sound moves at a relatively low speed (330 m/s). This is only 1.5 times faster than the movement of a modern Boeing. The speed of light is much greater than the speed of sound.

Thanks to this interval, it is possible to determine how far the sparkling lightning and thunder are from the observer.

For example, if 5 seconds elapsed between lightning and thunder, this means that the sound traveled 330 m 5 times. By multiplying, it is easy to calculate that the lightning from the observer was at a distance of 1650 m. If a thunderstorm passes closer than 3 km from a person, it is considered close. If the distance is in accordance with the appearance of lightning and thunder further, then the thunderstorm is distant.

Lightning in numbers

Thunder and lightning have been modified by scientists, and the results of their research are presented to the public.

It was found that the potential difference preceding lightning reaches billions of volts. The current strength at the same time at the moment of discharge reaches 100 thousand A.

The temperature in the channel heats up to 30 thousand degrees and exceeds the temperature on the surface of the Sun. Lightning travels from the clouds to the ground at a speed of 1000 km/s (0.002 s).

The internal channel through which the current flows does not exceed 1 cm, although the visible one reaches 1 m.

Around 1800 thunderstorms occur continuously in the world. The probability of being killed by lightning is 1:2000000 (same as dying from falling out of bed). The chance of seeing ball lightning is 1 in 10,000.

Ball lightning

On the way to studying where thunder and lightning come from in nature, ball lightning is the most mysterious phenomenon. These round fiery discharges have not yet been fully explored.

Most often, the shape of such lightning resembles a pear or watermelon. It lasts up to several minutes. Appears at the end of a thunderstorm in the form of red clots from 10 to 20 cm in diameter. The largest ball lightning ever photographed was about 10m in diameter. It makes a buzzing, hissing sound.

It can disappear quietly or with a slight crackle, leaving a smell of burning and smoke.

The movement of lightning does not depend on the wind. They are drawn into enclosed spaces through windows, doors, and even cracks. If they come into contact with a person, they leave severe burns and can be fatal.

Until now, the causes of the appearance of ball lightning were unknown. However, this is not evidence of its mystical origin. In this area, research is underway that can explain the essence of such a phenomenon.

Having become acquainted with such phenomena as thunder and lightning, one can understand the mechanism of their occurrence. This is a consistent and rather complex physical and chemical process. It represents one of the most interesting phenomena nature, which is found everywhere and therefore affects almost every person on the planet. Scientists have solved the mysteries of almost all types of lightning and even measured them. Ball lightning today is the only undisclosed secret of nature in the field of the formation of such natural phenomena.

A thunderstorm is an atmospheric phenomenon, although not as rare as, for example, the northern lights or the fires of St. Elmo, but no less bright and impressive with its indomitable strength and primordial power. It is not for nothing that all romantic poets and prose writers love to describe it so much in their works, and professional revolutionaries see a thunderstorm as a symbol of popular unrest and serious social upheavals. From a scientific point of view, a thunderstorm is a heavy rain, accompanied by a squally increase in wind, lightning and thunder. But, if you probably already understand everything with a shower and wind, then it’s worth telling a little more about the other components of a thunderstorm.

What is thunder and lightning

Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge in the atmosphere, which can occur both between individual cumulus clouds and between rain clouds and the ground. Lightning is a kind of giant electric arc, the length of which is on average 2.5 - 3 kilometers. The incredible power of lightning is evidenced by the fact that the current in the discharge reaches tens of thousands of amperes, and the voltage reaches several million volts. Considering that such fantastic power is released within a few milliseconds, a lightning strike can be called a kind of electrical explosion of incredible force. It is clear that such a detonation inevitably causes the appearance of a shock wave, which then degenerates into a sound wave and attenuates as it propagates in the air. Thus it becomes obvious what thunder is.

Thunder is sound vibrations that occur in the atmosphere under the influence of a shock wave caused by a powerful electrical discharge. Taking into account the fact that the air in the lightning channel instantly heats up to a temperature of about 20 thousand degrees, which exceeds the temperature of the surface of the Sun, such a discharge is inevitably accompanied by a deafening roar, like any other very powerful explosion. But after all, lightning lasts less than a second, and we hear thunder in long peals. Why does this happen, why does the thunder rumble? Atmospheric scientists have an answer to this question as well.

Why do we hear thunder

Thunder rolls occur in the atmosphere due to the fact that lightning, as we have already said, is very long and therefore the sound from its various parts does not reach our ear at the same time, although we see the light flash itself in its entirety at one moment. In addition, the occurrence of thunder peals is facilitated by the reflection of sound waves from clouds and the surface of the earth, as well as their refraction and scattering.

Thunder is the sound of lightning that pierces the air. When the first bolt of lightning strikes the ground, it carries electric charge. A spark charge erupts from the ground towards her. When they are connected to the cloud, the current begins to rise, gaining strength up to 20,000 amperes. And the temperature of the channel through which the current is directed can become higher than 250,000 C. From such high temperature air molecules fly apart, and it expands at supersonic speed and forms shock waves. The deafening roar generated by such waves is called thunder ohm. Due to the fact that the speed of light is much higher than the speed of sound, lightning is immediately visible, and thunder heard much later. thunder but occur due to the fact that the sound comes from different parts of the lightning, which has a significant length. In addition, the discharge itself does not occur in an instant, but continues for a certain time. The resulting sound can be echoed by surrounding objects: mountains, buildings and clouds. Therefore, people hear not one sound, but several echoes catching up with each other, thunder the bone of which can exceed 100 decibels. To approximately calculate how far the lightning struck, you need to note the number of seconds that elapsed between the flash and the strike thunder A. And then divide the resulting figure by three. Comparing such calculations, one can also conclude whether a thunderstorm is approaching or, conversely, moving away. Usually, thunder New peals can be heard at a distance of 15 to 20 kilometers from a lightning flash.

No matter how much science explains the essence of atmospheric electricity, all the same, people shudder at lightning discharges and involuntarily shrink in anticipation of a roll of thunder. Obviously, the memory of distant ancestors, who tried to find at least some protection from heavenly fire, speaks in most people.

Of course, there is nothing supernatural in atmospheric electricity, but this does not make the lightning and the thunder that follows them look less impressive and menacing. So what exactly is lightning?

As is known from the school physics course, all objects have a well-defined electrical charge. The collision between charged particles leads to the creation of large areas of positive and negative charges. When such regions are close enough to each other, a breakdown occurs and charged particles rush into the created channel. People perceive this breakdown as a lightning discharge.

If lightning is more or less understandable, then why is it followed by a terrifying roar, reminiscent of an artillery cannonade? After all, the same physics convinces people that the electric current cannot be seen, heard or otherwise detected, with the exception of special devices.

As it turns out, the whole point is in the air, or rather, in its properties. The fact is that, being, in fact, an insulator, at the moment of breakdown it is heated to a temperature of about 30,000 ° C. Moreover, the rate of heating and, accordingly, the expansion of the air environment expands explosively, which leads to the appearance of a shock wave, which the human ear perceives as a roar or thunder.

Therefore, lightning and thunder are inseparable, since thunder is the result of lightning. Talk about the fact that supposedly there is lightning without thunder and vice versa is groundless.

On the other hand, there are quite a lot of inexplicable things associated with lightning and its manifestations. Quite well known and relatively well studied are such types of lightning as linear, cord, cord, tape. In turn, they are single and branched. The most mysterious and so far unexplored lightning is ball lightning. Associated with her the largest number oddities and mysteries, both documented and unproven.

It has been repeatedly noted by many eyewitnesses that lightning flickers. The fact is that lightning consists of many successive discharges with a duration of only a few tens of millionths of a second. This creates a flickering effect.

Lightning discharges are like between individual thunderclouds, between a cloud and the ground, and sometimes a discharge, for unclear reasons, goes vertically into the sky.

As for the lightning coming from the clouds into the ground, there are two known types of them, positive and negative. Moreover, according to scientists, it is positive discharges, as more powerful ones, that lead to fires.

Of course, everyone knows such an atmospheric phenomenon as a thunderstorm. Every day on Earth there are at least one and a half thousand thunderstorms. Most of them are observed over the continents, over the oceans they are much less. The maximum thunderstorm activity can be observed over the territory of Central Africa. Over the Arctic and Antarctic this phenomenon is practically absent.

Thunderstorm is one of the most dangerous natural phenomena. Few people know, but the number of deaths that have occurred during thunderstorms can only be compared to floods. Inside a thundercloud or between earth's surface and cumulus clouds produce electrical discharges - lightning, which are accompanied by peals of thunder. Why does thunder rumble during a thunderstorm? Many people are interested in this question, but before answering it, it is necessary to understand what a thunderstorm and lightning are. What is their nature, from what do they arise?

Storm

A thunderstorm is "launched" by the energy that occurs during air convection. Warmer air rises, if the supply of moisture in the upper layers is sufficient, there are prerequisites for the formation of a thunderstorm. In the upper atmosphere, there is a difference in electric charges between pieces of ice due to their rapid movement. High humidity, ice and warm air rising from the ground contribute to the formation of thunderclouds. Thunderstorms give rise to such a terrible phenomenon as tornadoes, which so often occur over the American continent. Tornadoes form under thunderclouds.

Lightning

An interesting fact is that lightning occurs not only on Earth. Astronomers have recorded lightning on Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Uranus. The current in a lightning discharge ranges from 10 thousand to 100 thousand amperes, and the voltage can reach 50 million volts! Lightning reach giant size- up to 20 kilometers. The temperature inside a lightning bolt can be up to five times the temperature on the surface of the Sun.

The appearance of lightning in a thunderstorm is facilitated by the electrification of clouds. This is due to the fact that the thundercloud is very large. If the top of such a cloud is at a height of seven kilometers, then its lower edge can hang over the ground at a height of half a kilometer. At an altitude of 3-4 kilometers, the water freezes and turns into small pieces of ice, which are located in in constant motion from the rising warm currents of air rising from the earth.

Colliding with each other, the ice floes are electrified. Smaller ones are charged "positively", and larger ones - "negatively". Due to the difference in weight, small pieces of ice are at the top of the thundercloud, and large ones are at the bottom. It turns out that the top of the cloud is positively charged, and the bottom is negatively charged.

Approaching each other, differently charged regions create a plasma channel through which other charged particles rush. This is the lightning we see. Since any current follows the path of least resistance, lightning looks like a zigzag.

Thunder

In ancient times, people were equally afraid of thunder and lightning. It is not for nothing that many peoples called the Supreme God the Thunderer. Any discharge of lightning is accompanied by thunder. In fact, thunder is vibrations in the air. Flying lightning creates a strong pressure in front of it, this comes from strong heating. The air is then compressed again. The sound wave is repeatedly reflected from the clouds, and at this moment thunder rolls occur.

By the way, by the time interval between a flash of lightning and thunder, you can determine the approximate distance to a thunderstorm. The speed of sound depends on the density of the air, you can take its approximate value equal to 300 meters per second. Having done simple calculations, anyone will get the approximate distance to the raging elements. If the distance to the thunderstorm is very large (at least 20 kilometers), then the sounds of thunder will not reach the ears of a person.

During a thunderstorm, do not hide under single standing trees. There is a very high probability that lightning will strike a tree. It is better to wait out a thunderstorm in a room with closed windows. If this is not possible, then a thicket of the forest is suitable for shelter.

Thunderstorm is a frightening phenomenon. No matter where we are. At home or on the street. It's still scary. Dazzling glare, rolling rumble are frightening. Sounds seem to catch up with each other, now approaching, then moving away. In ancient times, people considered the roar of heaven to be the wrath of the gods. And lightning - a punishing sword. But we understand that these phenomena have a more earthly explanation. Why does thunder rumble? Why is he inseparable from lightning? Why does it rain during a thunderstorm?

How are thunderclouds formed?

There is water in the air. As a couple. Under the influence of high air temperature, warm steam rises from the water surface of the earth. Warm air pushes it in from below.

Temperatures are lower in the upper layers of the atmosphere. The higher the water vapor rises, the colder it becomes around it. Accordingly, it cools down.

The atmosphere contains more than just gases and water. There is also dust. The cooled steam condenses around its smallest particles. Small water droplets and ice floes turn into clouds. They are different. In the form of feathers or huge piles, white stripes on the heavenly slope or torn rags.

Thunderclouds are formed due to the collision of air masses. Then many, many water crystals gather in the upper part. It turns out a kind of white dense veil. It illuminates the whole cloud with cold, which acquires a rich shade of lead. That is why we call such clouds “lead”, “heavy”.

Spawn of thunder and lightning

Thunderclouds spawn glimmers. And lightning, in turn, is a celestial roar. How does this happen? Why does thunder rumble?

1. Droplets and ice particles at the top of a thundercloud interact with air molecules and are charged with electricity. When they get heavy, they fall down. So the lower part of the cloud becomes negatively charged.

2. At the same time, a positive charge accumulates at the top of the cloud. Plus and minus attract.

3. Under the influence of the attraction of positive and negative, tension arises. Given the size of the cloud (up to ten kilometers wide), this voltage reaches hundreds of millions of volts. This is how lightning is born.

4. A spark emerging from a cloud follows to the ground. Its temperature is huge - more than twenty degrees. As a result of the rapid movement of the fiery arrow, great pressure is created in the atmosphere. And immediately behind it, the air is sharply compressed, returning to its original state. It makes an explosive sound. This is how thunder is born.

FAQ:

Why do we see lightning first and then hear the sound of thunder?

Because the speed of light is hundreds of millions of times greater than the speed of sound.

Why do we hear thunder?

Because sound waves meet various obstacles on their way (clouds, earth) and are reflected from them. This happens multiple times. Hence the rolling thunder sounds.

Sometimes we see a bliskavitsa, but we do not hear peals. Why?

The storm is too far away from us, more than twenty kilometers.

What is thunder? Thunder is the sound that accompanies lightning during a thunderstorm. Sounds simple enough, but why does lightning sound that way? All sound is made up of vibrations that create sound waves in the air. Lightning is a huge discharge of electricity that shoots through the air, causing vibrations. Many have wondered more than once about where lightning and thunder come from and why thunder precedes lightning. There are quite understandable reasons for this phenomenon.

How does thunder rumble?

Electricity passes through the air and sets the air particles into a state of vibration. Lightning is accompanied by an incredibly high temperature, so the air around it is also very hot. Hot air expands, increasing the strength and number of vibrations. What is thunder? These are the sound vibrations that occur during lightning discharges.

Why doesn't thunder rumble at the same time as lightning?

We see lightning before we hear thunder because light travels faster than sound. There is an old myth that by counting the seconds between a flash of lightning and thunder, you can find out the distance to the place where the storm is raging. However, from a mathematical point of view, this assumption has no scientific justification, since the speed of sound is approximately 330 meters per second.

Thus, it takes 3 seconds for the thunder to travel one kilometer. Therefore, it would be more correct to count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide this number by five, this will be the distance to the thunderstorm.

This mysterious phenomenon is lightning

The heat from lightning electricity raises the temperature of the surrounding air to 27,000°C. Since lightning moves at an incredible speed, the heated air simply does not have time to expand. The heated air is compressed, its atmospheric pressure at the same time increases many times and becomes from 10 to 100 times higher than normal. Compressed air rushes outward from the lightning channel, forming a shock wave of compressed particles in every direction. Like an explosion, rapidly propagating waves of compressed air create a loud, booming burst of noise.

Based on the fact that electricity follows the shortest path, the predominant amount of lightning is close to vertical. However, lightning can also branch out, as a result of which the sound coloring of the thunder roar also changes. Shockwaves from different forks of lightning bounce off each other, while low-hanging clouds and nearby hills help create a continuous growl of thunder. Why does thunder rumble? Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of air surrounding the path of lightning.

What causes lightning?

Lightning is an electrical current. Inside a thundercloud high in the sky, numerous small pieces of ice (frozen raindrops) collide with each other as they move through the air. All these collisions create an electrical charge. After a while, the whole cloud is filled with electric charges. Positive charges, protons, form at the top of the cloud, and negative charges, electrons, form at the bottom of the cloud. And as you know, opposites attract. The main electric charge is concentrated around everything that sticks out above the surface. It can be mountains, people or lonely trees. The charge goes up from these points and eventually combines with the charge going down from the clouds.

What causes thunder?

What is thunder? This is the sound that lightning makes, which is essentially a stream of electrons flowing between or within a cloud, or between a cloud and the ground. The air around these streams is heated to such an extent that it becomes three times hotter than the surface of the Sun. Simply put, lightning is a bright flash of electricity.

Such an amazing and at the same time frightening spectacle of thunder and lightning is a combination of dynamic vibrations of air molecules and their disruption by electrical forces. This magnificent show once again reminds everyone of the powerful force of nature. If the roar of thunder was heard, lightning will soon flash, it is better not to be on the street at this time.

Thunder: fun facts

• You can judge how close lightning is by counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder. For every second, there are about 300 meters.
• It is common to see lightning and hear thunder during a big thunderstorm, but thunder during snowfall is a rarity.
• Lightning is not always accompanied by thunder. In April 1885, five lightning bolts struck the Washington Monument during a thunderstorm, but no one heard the thunder.

Watch out, lightning!

Lightning is a rather dangerous natural phenomenon, and it is better to stay away from it. If you are indoors during a thunderstorm, you should avoid water. It is an excellent conductor of electricity, so you should not shower, wash your hands, wash dishes or do laundry. Do not use the telephone, as lightning can strike outside telephone lines. Do not turn on electrical equipment, computers and home appliances during a storm. Knowing what thunder and lightning are, it is important to behave correctly if suddenly a thunderstorm caught you by surprise. Stay away from windows and doors. If someone is struck by lightning, you need to call for help and call an ambulance.