What Causes Thunder?

Explanation:

Thunder is the loud sound produced by lightning. It is a result of the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. When lightning occurs during a thunderstorm, it heats the air along its path to temperatures of up to 30,000 degrees Celsius (54,000 degrees Fahrenheit) in a fraction of a second. This sudden and extreme heating causes the air to expand rapidly, creating a shockwave that we hear as thunder.

Light travels much faster than sound, so the flash of lightning is seen almost instantly when it occurs. However, sound waves travel at a much slower speed, so the thunder produced by the lightning takes longer to reach our ears. This is why we see the lightning first and then hear the thunder afterwards.

Essentially, thunder is the result of the rapid expansion and contraction of the air surrounding a lightning bolt. The cracking or rumbling sound we hear is the shockwave created by the sudden heating and cooling of the air around the lightning's path. The intensity of the thunder can vary depending on the distance from the lightning strike and the atmospheric conditions.