What is the main cause of 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. This causes the air to explode outward.

Can lightning be stopped or prevented?

A lightning rod is the answer. It is the easiest and only known way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our property from lightning damage. They collect the electrically charged cloud, preventing it from damaging your facility and discharging it to the ground safely.

What causes thunder and lightning storms?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. As lightning connects to the ground from the clouds, a second stroke of lightning will return from the ground to the clouds, following the same channel as the first strike.

What you should do and what you avoid during lightning and thunderstorm?

During a thunderstorm, avoid open vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles, and golf carts. Be sure to avoid open structures such as porches, gazebos, baseball dugouts, and sports arenas. And stay away from open spaces such as golf courses, parks, playgrounds, ponds, lakes, swimming pools, and beaches.

What causes thunder for kids?

The lightning flash heats the air around it so quickly that the air expands very fast. When you heat something, it gets bigger – it expands. The air around the lightning flash expands so fast that it makes a shock wave in the air. That shock wave is the thunder that you hear.

Where is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

A car or other enclosed metal structure is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. Failing that, a ditch, trench or group of shrubs of uniform height is better than nothing. Keep away from boundary areas between dissimilar terrain (water and land; rock and earth; trees and fields).

What causes thunder to rumble?

Quick expansion and contraction of air around lightning starts air molecules moving back and forth, creating sound waves. From second 5 to second 15 after the flash you will hear every different part (clap) in between, resulting in a rumbling sound. The end of the rumble is the farthest part of the bolt.

Can you get hit by lightning?

Lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities. But the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are only around 1 in 500,000. However, some factors can put you at greater risk for being struck.

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 does the sound of Thunder serve as a warning?

The sound of thunder should serve as a warning to anyone outside that they are within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately! 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

What is Thunder and how is it formed?

Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid heating of air by a lightning strike. When a lightning flash occurs, the air with the channel of the flash is heated very quickly to very high temperatures – tens of thousands of Deg F – this generates a supersonic expansion of the air, creating something like a “sonic boom”, resulting in audible thunder.

What should you do to stay safe during a thunderstorm?

All building structures should have a lightning conductor – nearby but not touching. Stay indoors during a thunderstorm and if you are travelling, stay in the vehicle. Don’t continue the barbecue (braai). Practising lightning safety is never convenient.