1. Initiation and Development: The sound of thunder begins with a spark caused by the collision of particles within a thunderstorm cloud or between a cloud and the ground. The spark leads to the formation of a lightning channel, which is several miles long and lasts only a fraction of a second.
2. Shockwave: As the lightning channel heats the air rapidly, it creates a massive change in pressure. This sudden pressure change generates a shockwave that propagates through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds, producing a thunderous clap.
3. Soundwaves and Echoes: The shockwave from the lightning channel generates soundwaves that travel in all directions. As these soundwaves spread, they encounter various objects and obstacles in their path, such as mountains, buildings, and trees. These objects cause the soundwaves to reflect, diffract, and scatter in different directions, creating echoes.
4. Low Frequency Rumble: The initial clap of thunder is followed by a rumbling sound, which is primarily composed of low-frequency soundwaves. These low-frequency components carry more acoustic energy and travel longer distances compared to the higher-pitched sounds. The rumbling sound is what most people associate with thunder.
5. Time Delay: The time delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder provides a clue to the distance of the lightning strike. Since sound travels at approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second), each five seconds between the flash and the clap indicates that the lightning strike occurred approximately one mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
It's important to note that the characteristics of thunder can vary depending on the intensity of the lightning strike, atmospheric conditions, and the surroundings. However, these components generally make up the sound of thunder that we experience during thunderstorms.