Thunder

:For the rock band, see Thunder (band).

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Thunder is the sound of the shockwave caused when lightning instantly heats the air around it to up to 30 000 °C (54 000 °F). That super-heated air expands rapidly, then contracts as it cools. The rapid expansion/contraction generates sound waves, making the sound that is called "thunder."

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Because sound and light travel at different speeds through the atmosphere, one can time the interval between them to roughly estimate how far away the bolt of lightning is. The speed of sound in air is approximately 340 m/s (761 mph), while the speed of light is so fast that the lightning is seen only a few microseconds after the event, so the lightning is approximately one kilometer distant for every 3 second interval (one mile for every 5 seconds).

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Shockwave: Shockwave and similar may refer to:...

Lightning: : For alternate meanings, see Lightning (disambiguation)....

°C: REDIRECT Et cetera...

Thunder related Images and Photos (experimental)

Thunder Birds	Thunder Mountain	Thunder Cats - Logo	Thunder Road 1958
Thunder 1983	Tropic Thunder	Tropic Thunder	Rolling Thunder
Thunder Mountain Poppies	Thunder Birds 1942	Thunder Alley 1967	Thunder Of Drums, A (DVD)