What Causes ‘Thunder’ and Why Is It So Loud?

Thunder is the loud sound you hear after seeing lightning. Lightning makes a big boom in the sky, but it takes time for that sound to reach your ears, like when you shout across a room and someone hears you later because of the distance.

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Examples

A loud boom after a flash in the sky
Thunder that shakes your windows at night
Hearing thunder rumble from across the valley

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Categories: Physics · sound· storms· acoustics· weather· energy transfer