Question:

Is the loud bang of a nearby lightning strike a form of sonic boom?

by | earlier

Tags:

Report

Answer The Question I've Same Question Too

Sort By: Date | Rating

It is merely the expansion of air and the resultant shock wave.
Report (0) (0) | earlier
Not exactly because nothing is moving above the speed of sound. But the sound of thunder is the air that gets so hot in a fraction of a second that it virtually explode creating a sound wave of great importance.

You probably have seen trees that were splitted in two after the strike of lightning. Electricity cannot split a tree in two but the water in the tree can as heat makes it turn into steam instantly.

I know someone who has an old sailboat with a wooden mast and his mast broke in two after being hitted by lightning. The insurance company refused to pay for the repairs because they said that lightning couldn't brake a mast in two. After much scientific consultation and a trial, the company was forced to admit that yes: water and heat can create enough force to split a mast in two. What happens is, even if the mast is well maintained the timber always develop deep grooves that contain water when it rains.
Report (0) (0) | earlier