Thunder is the acoustic shock wave resulting from the extreme heat generated by a lightning flash. This is where air expands so rapidly that it compresses the air in front of it, forming a shock wave similar to a sonic boom. Exploding fireworks produce a similar result.

What creates a sonic boom?

Sonic boom is an impulsive noise similar to thunder. It is caused by an object moving faster than sound — about 750 miles per hour at sea level. When the aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, these pressure waves combine and form shock waves which travel forward from the generation or “release” point. …

Can any object create a sonic boom?

A sonic boom does not occur only at the moment an object crosses the speed of sound; and neither is it heard in all directions emanating from the supersonic object. Rather the boom is a continuous effect that occurs while the object is travelling at supersonic speeds.

What is sonic thunder?

“Sonic Thunder” is tailored to a sophomore or junior level and addresses topics suitable for aerospace engineering, fluid mechanics and dynamics, as well as meteorology.

Can thunder hurt you?

What is there to be scared of? Most storms are harmless, even soothing to some, and nurturing to plants and wildlife. Thunder can’t hurt us, of course, but lightning strikes can be deadly. Still, lightning strikes are deadly, which is why you should go indoors when you hear thunder.

Are sonic booms illegal?

At Mach 1.06, it was the first airplane to fly faster than the speed of sound. Then in 1973, the FAA banned overland supersonic commercial flights because of sonic booms—a prohibition that remains in effect today.

Is Sonic faster than lightning?

Lightning and thunder happen at the same time. But you see lightning before you hear thunder because light, which travels a million times faster than sound, arrives almost instantly. Sound, on the other hand, takes about five seconds to travel one mile.

Can lightning break the sound barrier?

The channel heats to about 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit!. The rapid expansion of the heated air around the channel breaks the sound barrier, and you hear thunder. One lightning stoke can generate between 100 million and 1 billion volts of electricity!

Can lightning give you superpowers?

The effects of the lightning may grant Electrical-Based Powers, Weather Powers or any powers to the victim if they survive.