Is thunder caused by lightning breaking the sound barrier?

Question

Is thunder caused by lightning breaking the sound barrier?

Answer 1

Nope. Lightning does cause thunder, but it's not because it breaks the sound barrier. More information can be found in this wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder

Answer 2

It is caused by the air around the lightning heating up and then cooling quickly, filling the space and essentially slamming into it self.   This is what I learned in the Air Force as a Meterologist, apparently, however, there are some new ideas.   Check wikipedia.

Answer 3

lightning and thunder are both associated with thunderstorms. lightning is caused by a huge electrical spark in the clouds. thunder is caused by the sudden heating of the air by lightning. the heat makes molecules of air along the lightning's channel expand and collide with cool molecules. this sets up a wave, which creates the rumbling sound of thunder. we see lightning before we hear thunder, because light travels faster through air than sound.

Answer 4

It is basically a soundwave produced my rapidly expanding air produced by lightning.

Answer 5

The reason why you hear thunder after you see the lightning is because sound travels much slower than light.