The sound of thunder comes from the air surrounding a lightning bolt, not from the bolt itself. When lightning strikes, electricity rushes down a path from the air to the ground. Then, another bolt of electricity surges from the ground back into the air, following the same path. This second bolt rapidly heats the air around it to an incredibly high temperature. The heated air does not have time to expand, so it is compressed with great pressure. The compressed air suddenly explodes outward, causing a loud, booming shock wave.
What causes the sound of thunder?
Y Alightning bolt is compressed by air and explodes.
(2 Air heated by electricity is compressed and then explodes.
© The air near the ground rushes back to the lightning bolt and explodes.
1 answer
b) Air heated by electricity is compressed and then explodes.