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You are here: Home / Science / What causes thunder and lightning?

What causes thunder and lightning?

March 9, 2020 by Karen Hill

Angry gods, of course. Haven’t you ever watched cartoons?

Okay, it’s electricity, and it’s not that far removed from what happens when you rub a large, furry cat.

Start with those tall, puffy cumulonimbus clouds that develop quickly as hot, moist air flies up into colder layers.

The turbulence forces water vapor to move up and down at high speeds, rubbing a huge quantity of electrons loose from their molecular moorings and creating a massive buildup of electricity.

Lightning is the result, and as the blinding bolt discharges, the 40,000-degree heat expands the surrounding air, creating a big bang of sound waves that we hear as thunder.

Related Facts

  • Why Does Thunder Sound Like a Sharp Crack, and Sometimes Like a Low Rumble?
  • How Many Times Does Lightning Strike Around the World Each Day and How Hot Is a Bolt of Lightning?
  • When Lightning Strikes Water Do All the Fish Die and What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Ship at Sea?
  • Who Discovered the Nature of Electricity and that all forms of electricity are the same?
  • How Do Lightning Rods Work?
  • How High Does Voltage Have To Be Before It’s a Serious Hazard?

Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How can you tell how far away a lightning strike is?
Next Post: How did it once rain frogs in Mexico? »

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