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   Question

How do you determine the distance of lightening from where you are standing using the sight of lightening and the sound of the thunder?

Asked by: A. Reuvenny

 Answer

Light travels at approximately 186,000 miles per second while sound travels at approximately 1100 ft. per second.

Considering the time it takes the light to reach you being negligible (because of such a high speed of light), when you see the lightning flash start counting at a per second rate then when the thunder is heard multiply your count by 1100 and this will give an approximation of the distance in feet from you to the lightning.

Answered by: Joe Thomas


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