What causes those light from lighting's and the sound of thunder?

Question

What causes those light from lighting's and the sound of thunder?

Answer 1

Lightning is a big electrical arc just like static electricity in the winter. When one area get's an imbalance of electrons nature seeks to correct that imbalance. A primer usually comes up from the ground seeking a place to discharge the build up of negatively charge particles. When a place is available (just like when you touch a light switch) the lightening discharges.

Well you know that little sound you hear when you shock yourself in the winter? That's a few volts over 1/4 inch or so. Lightening is several hundred thousand volts over a few miles sometimes.

Answer 2

Hmm, not totally sure, well there's the whole lightning is electricity and electricity gives out light so that's mainly solved but as for the sound....

Answer 3

The light from a lightning bolt is the result of atoms glowing as the electrical charge flows and is drained through the bolt channel.

This draining of the electrical charge causes the lightning bolt to be very very hot.  As a result the air immediately outside of the bolt is heated and expands explosively, creating the concussion shockwave we call thunder.

Answer 4

Particles in the air become charged and eventually a connection between earth and the clouds is created (a circuit) the particles become super heated and thats the flash you see! The sound is due to the superheated particles.