How does thunder occurs?

Question

How does thunder occurs?

Answer 1

The source of power of thunder is debatable but thunder occurs when atmosphere at high altitude gets electrically charged, when clouds collect together as water is better conductor of electricity than air, this energy stays in water as heat.

While the lower edge of cloud is cooler and upper end is warmer the potential difference between earth and cloud builds up.

As rain begins to fall the energy carrying capacity of it decreases and this energy jumps to the ground in form of electric current, this is what we see as Thunder.

Answer 2

Thunder basically is the sound of air molecules clapping. Lighting, which is static electricity that jumps from cloud to cloud or ground to cloud, heats up the air molecules around which in turns make the air molecules expand. Then the air cools down and the air molecules goes back to its original place slamming into each other as it happens creating the loud clap of thunder.

Answer 3

The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave which produces the sound of thunder.

Answer 4

When cold air, from the north, and warm air, from the south, collide together to form thunder.

Answer 5

As a consequence of lightning and the sound wave that is caused by rapidlly expanding air.