Is the second rule between lightening and thunder true?

Question

Ive always heard that when you see lightening if you count the seconds from then until you hear the thunder that's how many miles away the storm is. True or false?

Answer 1

it is an appoximation. it is not very close, as i will tell you.

actually, it would be

(770m/1hr)(1hr/3600sec)=.214miles per second. so actually, it would be closer to say every 5 seconds is a mile.

make it a good day.

Answer 2

it's approximately 5 seconds per mile

Answer 3

False.

It's 5 seconds.

Answer 4

True.

There's a huge difference between the speed of light and the speed of sound.

For light, it's almost instantaneous.

For sound, it's about 5 seconds per mile.

So if you see the flash, then can count 5 seconds before you hear the thunder, then the lightning flash was one mile away.