Why the sound of a thunder can be heard for a couple of seconds, although the lightning strike itself takes much shorter time to happen?
Thunder echos off of anything it hits, like hills or buildings, so its effect seems to stretch out as you hear all the echos shortly after the initial hit.
The Short Answer
Thunder echos off of anything it hits, like hills or buildings, so its effect seems to stretch out as you hear all the echos shortly after the initial hit.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Echos, thunder, anything
This explanation focuses on echos, thunder, anything and spans 29 words across 1 sentences. At 59% below the average Nature explanation (71 words), the answer takes a direct, no-frills approach — sometimes the simplest explanation is the most effective.
What This Answer Covers
This is a focused, single-point answer that gets directly to the core of the question without detours.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #422 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 85%). This is a brief primer — the answer is intentionally short. For questions with a single core mechanism, brevity can actually be a strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why why the sound of a thunder can be heard for a couple of seconds, although the lightning strike itself takes much shorter time to happen?
Thunder echos off of anything it hits, like hills or buildings, so its effect seems to stretch out as you hear all the echos shortly after the initial hit.
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is a brief answer at 29 words, ranked #422 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are echos, thunder, anything.
What approach does this answer take to explain why the sound of a thunder can be heard for a couple of seco?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 29 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.