What makes thunder and lightning?

1. 1

   Roo says

   Inside a big storm cloud, the wind tosses bits of ice and hail up and down, and they bump into each other. All that bumping builds up electricity, more and more. When there's too much, it jumps out in a giant spark. That spark is lightning!

   For ages 4–7
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   Checked against Lightning science (National Weather Service)

2. 2

   Then what makes the thunder?

   Lightning is super hot, about five times hotter than the surface of the sun! It heats the air around it in a flash, so the air bursts outwards, then quickly shrinks back. That sudden push makes a big rumbling sound. That's thunder.

   For ages 6–9
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   Checked against Lightning science: thunder (National Weather Service)

3. 3

   Why do I see the flash before I hear the boom?

   Light zooms to you almost instantly. Sound is much slower, so the boom takes longer to arrive. Count the seconds between the flash and the boom. The bigger the number, the farther away the storm is.

   For ages 7–10
   Hear Roo

   Checked against Lightning science: thunder (National Weather Service)

In Lil' Phil, reaching the bottom of this wonder earns a sticker for Roo's collection.

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  Ages 4–9Roo
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  What are clouds made of?

  Ages 4–10Roo