What Causes ‘Thunder’ and Why Does It Sound So Loud?

Thunder is what you hear after a flash of lightning. When lightning hits, it heats the air so quickly that the air expands and makes a big boom. The more powerful the lightning, the louder the thunder. It sounds loud because sound waves travel through the air and reach your ears like a strong wave.

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Examples

Thunder sounds louder when you're outside during a storm.
You hear thunder after seeing lightning because light travels faster than sound.
A nearby lightning strike makes thunder seem like it's right on top of you.

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Categories: Physics · sound,lightning,acoustics