Why do we see fireworks explode before we hear them?

The speed of light is slower than the speed of sound.

The speed of light decreases in firework explosions.

The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.

The speed of light increases in firework explosions.

1 answer

The correct answer is: The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.

Light travels much faster than sound. In general, light travels at approximately \(299,792,458\) meters per second in a vacuum, while sound travels at about \(343\) meters per second in air (at room temperature). This significant difference in speed is why we see fireworks explode before we hear the sound they make.