Thunder is caused by ____________________________.
A)the compression of free neutrons in the lightning bolt
B)the compression of free photons in the lightning bolt
C)the compression of free electrons in the lightning bolt
D)the combustion of flammable atmospheric gases by the lightning bolt
E)high temperatures of lightning that flash heat the surrounding air,causing it to expand explosively

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thunder is caused by the rapid heating of the air surrounding a lightning bolt, which causes the air to expand explosively, creating a shock wave that we hear as thunder. This is known as the "flash-to-bang" method for calculating the distance of a thunderstorm - counting the seconds between a lightning bolt and its corresponding thunder, and dividing by five to estimate the distance in miles.

Thunder Is Caused by ____________________________