Is lightning and thunderstorm same?

Is lightning and thunderstorm same?

People talk about thunder and lightning as if they are different. Actually, lightning and thunder are more than just related: They are the same thing. When static charge creates enough voltage in a thunderstorm, the result is a spark — a huge spark. Lightning is the visible flash of the spark, and thunder is the sound.

What is the relationship between lightning and thunder quizlet?

What is the relationship between lightning and thunder? Lightning is an electric discharge that forms between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. The air around the lightning bolt expands rapidly to produce sound waves that we call thunder.

Is lighting caused by thunder?

Lightning causes thunder! Energy from a lightning channel heats the air briefly to around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, much hotter than the surface of the sun. Because light travels through the air roughly a million times faster than sound does, you can use thunder to estimate the distance to lightning.

What is the difference between lighting and lightening?

Lightening is the present participle of the verb lighten. Lightning is the electrical discharge that happens during storms.

Why do thunder and lightning usually happen together quizlet?

AIR is NOT a good conductor of electricity (electricity does not flow easily through it). ONLY WHEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN CHARGE BT + AND – AREAS OCCURS CAN A LIGHTNING BOLT OCCUR. Such intense heats VIOLENTLY EXPANDS the air and creates a SOUND WAVE that we hear as thunder.

What causes lightning in thunderstorms quizlet?

-The rain in a thunderstorm causes an electrical charge separation between the top and bottom of a thunderstorm cloud. The top becomes POSITIVELY charged while the bottom becomes NEGATIVELY charged. ONLY when a huge difference in charge between positive and negative areas occurs can a lightning bolt occur.

What’s the difference between lightning and lightening?

Why is it called a thunderstorm and not a lightning storm?

No, it is not possible to have thunder without lightning. Thunder starts as a shockwave from the explosively expanding lightning channel when a large current causes rapid heating.

What do you mean by lightning?

Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds. This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.

Which is faster light or lightning?

The average speed of lightning is not as fast as the speed of light, which is 299,792,458 meters per second.

Why is lightning seen before thunder is heard?

If we are watching the sky, we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. That is because light travels much faster than sound waves. We can estimate the distance of the lightning by counting how many seconds it takes until we hear the thunder.

Which is safest in a thunderstorm?

If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity. Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up.

Why do Thunder and lightning occur at the same time?

Thunder and lightning occur at roughly the same time although you see the flash of lightning before you hear the thunder. This is because light travels much faster than sound. What Gives Lightning its Zap?

What causes thunderstorms to occur?

Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun.

What happens to air during a lightning storm?

The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly.

How do you calculate the distance between lightning and Thunder?

Understanding Lightning: Thunder. If you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide by 5, you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile, 15 seconds = 3 miles, 0 seconds = very close.