Explain why you see lightning before you hear thunder. (4 points! You may re-watch the video OR use other resources you find to help you answer this question. Don't be afraid to re-watch the video OR get on the internet and research!! Scientists do RESEARCH!) (4 points)
There are actually two reasons why we see lightning before we hear thunder.
Firstly, light travels much faster than sound. Light travels at a speed of approximately 300,000 kilometers per second, while sound travels at a speed of about 343 meters per second. This means that the light from the lightning reaches our eyes much faster than the sound of the thunder reaches our ears.
Secondly, the process of lightning and thunder formation also plays a role. Lightning is a rapid discharge of electrical energy in the atmosphere, which emits light in the form of a bright flash. Thunder, on the other hand, is the sound produced by the rapid expansion and contraction of air when it is heated by the lightning. Because light travels faster than sound, we see the lightning first before we hear the accompanying thunder.