TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) -- Every Tuesday on WTXL Sunrise, you'll be able to have one of your own weather questions answered by Meteorologist Alex Cordero.
This week, our question comes from Meteorologist Alex Cordero's niece: Ollie Robinson.
She asks: Why do thunder and lightning go together if they aren't the same?
To many of us, the answer may already be known, but in case some of our young and growing scientists didn't know, let's explain:
LIGHTNING: Lightning is the large electric discharge between clouds, the air, or the ground. Positive charges on the ground and negative charges in clouds interact. When they interact and build up large enough, you can get a large flash of lightning.
THUNDER: Thunder is the booming sound that comes from lightning that strikes an object on the ground. This causes the air to rapidly expand, creating a sound wave known as thunder. Lightning is so hot, with temperatures well above 10,000° and that heat quickly expands the air around it, creating a loud sound.
That sound wave is thunder! Sometimes lightning will occur very close, and the noise of thunder will sound more like a very cloud CRACK! If you are far from it, there will be the sound of a booming rumble that echoes through the sky.
Remember this: Lightning is the bright light, and thunder is the sound.
Remember you can send your questions to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or send them to ACORDERO@WTXL.TV
