Which is faster, thunder or lightning? Why does lightning make a sound?

Lightning is a strong discharge in the atmosphere. It is a natural phenomenon. Usually, storm clouds generate electric charges. The bottom layer is negative and the top layer is positive. Positive charges are generated on the ground and follow the clouds like a shadow. Which is faster, thunder or lightning? Why? Why does lightning make a sound? We will share with you the natural knowledge about lightning in detail. I hope you are interested.

Contents of this article

1. Which is faster, thunder or lightning? Why?

2. Why does lightning make a sound?

3. How to avoid lightning

Which is faster, thunder or lightning? Why?

Lightning is faster.

Thunder is sound, lightning is light. The speed of light is greater than the speed of sound, which is 882,353 times the speed of sound, so the speed of lightning is obviously faster than thunder. Thunder is a phenomenon that accompanies lightning. Thunder can be divided into three types. One is a clear and loud thunder like an explosion, generally called "explosive thunder"; the other is a dull rumble, which some people call "muffled thunder". There is also a low and long-lasting rumble, a bit like the sound of grinding. Lightning is a strong discharge phenomenon between clouds, between clouds and the ground, or between different parts of a cloud.

Why does lightning make a sound?

When lightning occurs, the air along its path suddenly expands, pushing the surrounding air, causing the air to vibrate violently, and the sound produced is thunder.

Lightning is a strong discharge in the atmosphere. It is a natural phenomenon. Usually, storm clouds generate electric charges. The bottom layer is negative and the top layer is positive. Positive charges are generated on the ground and follow the clouds like a shadow. Positive and negative charges attract each other, and air is not a good conductor. Positive charges rush to the tops of trees, hills, tall buildings, and even human bodies, and meet the negatively charged clouds. The branch-like tentacles of negative charges extend downward, and the lower they extend, the closer they are to the ground.

Finally, the positive and negative charges finally overcome the air barrier and connect. A huge current flows along a conductive airway from the ground to the cloud, producing a bright and dazzling flash. When the charges are neutralized, a large amount of light and heat will be released. The large amount of heat released instantly will heat the surrounding air to a high temperature of 30,000℃.

How to Dodge Lightning

To avoid lightning, you should do the following:

1. People should stay indoors and close doors and windows. People working outdoors should take shelter inside buildings.

2. Never handle flammable items in open containers.

3. When you are in the wilderness and cannot hide in a building with lightning protection facilities, you should stay away from trees and masts.

4. It is not advisable to use electrical appliances such as televisions and stereos without lightning protection measures or with insufficient lightning protection measures, and it is not advisable to use faucets.

5. Do not touch antennas, water pipes, wire mesh, metal doors and windows, building exterior walls, and stay away from electrical equipment such as wires or other similar metal devices.

6. Do not stand on top of a mountain, on the roof of a building, or near other highly conductive objects.

7. Reduce the use of telephones and mobile phones.

8. Do not swim or engage in other water sports. Do not play outdoor ball games. Leave the water and other open areas and find a place to hide.

9. It is not advisable to open an umbrella in an open space, or carry badminton rackets, golf clubs, etc. on your shoulders.

10. It is not advisable to drive a motorcycle or ride a bicycle.