Why does the rumble of thunder last so much longer than the actual lightning strike that causes it?
It's got to do with the way the lightning bolt is oriented compared to you. For all intents and purposes a lightning bolt happens in a single instant. And the shockwave, aka the thunder.
The Short Answer
It's got to do with the way the lightning bolt is oriented compared to you. For all intents and purposes a lightning bolt happens in a single instant. And the shockwave, aka the thunder. Forms along the path of the lightning at that very moment. Now even if the bolt travels straight down from the cloud to the earth, which it rarely if never does, the shockwave starts at diffrent distances from you. And since sounds travels at a more or less fixed speeds you hear the diffrent parts of the shockwave in succession. And of course some of the sound bounces off diffrent parts of the world meaning they reach you via an indirect and even longer path.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Lightning, bolt, shockwave
This explanation focuses on lightning, bolt, shockwave and spans 119 words across 7 sentences. At 68% above the average Nature explanation (71 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “It's got to do with the way the lightning bolt is oriented compared to you.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #75 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 16%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why the rumble of thunder last so much longer than the actual lightning strike that causes it?
It's got to do with the way the lightning bolt is oriented compared to you. For all intents and purposes a lightning bolt happens in a single instant. And the shockwave, aka the thunder. Forms along the path of the lightning at that very moment. Now…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 119 words, ranked #75 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are lightning, bolt, shockwave.
What approach does this answer take to explain the rumble of thunder last so much longer than the actual li?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 119 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.