What is thunder? and what causes it?

Question

I know this is a stupid question, but i have always wanted to know what causes thunder. I know lightening is electricity but when i was little i was told that thunder is caused by the clouds bashing together and to me that just sounds stupid. Ive always wanted to know this so can someone tell me pls :)

Answer 1

This is a explosive wave that results from the extreme differences of air from two sources....the extremely hot lightning's imaginary path, which can reach as high as 50,000F, and the much-cooler air around it.

The air rapidly expands as the two air temperature differences (worsened by the superheated atmosphere of the lightning) balance out, and you get something similar to a sonic boom...a deafening shock wave that results in what we call thunder.

Answer 2

Hahahaha, i've been told that it comes from clouds clashing into each other. But i dont know :P

Answer 3

Very simple. The lightning (which is super hot) literally splits the air mass into two when it strikes, causing it to be super heated and expand. The thunder you hear is actually the air masses colliding back together.  

Answer 4

I have heard it is the sonic boom resulting from lightning breaking the sound barrier.

Answer 5

in the air you gave negative and positive elettroni an when the air it's,to full of electromagnetic camp, have download some were sow from the heart *** a guide electricity (from the ground) and it generate the thunder if you want know more contact me

Answer 6

Thunder is the audible result of a very quick expansion of air as the result of a static discharge (lightning) in the atmosphere.

Answer 7

Thunder is the result of air coming back together after lightning. As the electric current moves through the paths it selects (the ones that are fastest to the ground), the different molecules that make up "air" superheat, effectively causing a "gap" in the air; after the lightning has satisfied the charge imbalance in the atmosphere and the air cools, the air "smacks" back together, resulting in many sounds waves. These sounds waves are simply molecules moving in a wave pattern from the disturbance, like the ripple effect of a stone thrown in the water. These sound waves are translated by your ear as chemical signals to your brain, which commonly interprets them as "cracks" and "booms".