Thunder and lightning are caused by the buildup and discharge of electrical energy in the atmosphere, typically during a thunderstorm. When the atmosphere is unstable, it can create areas of rising and falling air, which can cause the separation of charges in the atmosphere. These areas of opposite charges, known as thunderstorm cells, can create a buildup of electrical energy. When the electrical potential becomes great enough, a lightning bolt is created as a discharge of this energy.
Lightning can reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of air surrounding a lightning bolt, creating a shock wave that we hear as thunder.
Lightning strikes the earth about 100 times every second.
Lightning can strike the same place twice.
Lightning is a discharge of electrical energy in the atmosphere, typically in the form of a visible bolt or flash. This discharge can be between different parts of a thunderstorm cloud, within a single cloud, or between the cloud and the ground. Lightning is caused by the buildup of electrical charge in the atmosphere and occurs in the form of a current.
Thunder, on the other hand, is the sound that is heard as a result of the rapid expansion of air surrounding a lightning bolt. When a lightning bolt occurs, it heats the air to extremely high temperatures, causing the air to rapidly expand and create a shock wave. This shock wave is what we hear as thunder.
In summary, lightning is a visual phenomenon, while thunder is an auditory phenomenon caused by the sound of lightning.
