Explain why, during a thunderstorm, lightning is seen before thunder is heard, even though both phenomena occur simultaneously.

4 views 1 helpful Updated Jul 27, 2026
Appears in Class 8th
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Answer

Lightning and thunder occur at the same time, but light travels much faster than sound. Light travels at approximately 3 x 10⁸ meters per second, while sound travels at about 343 meters per second in air. Therefore, the light from the lightning reaches our eyes almost instantaneously, while the sound of thunder takes longer to reach our ears.

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