What makes thunder go boom?

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentChip asked me what makes thunder go boom. I have three doctorates, and this is my life now.

2. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI'm ready, teacher! I brought a juice box and everything.

3. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFirst, lightning. It is super hot, hotter than the surface of the Sun. Per NOAA, about fifty thousand degrees Fahrenheit.

4. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo lightning is the pretzel oven at the mall kiosk. That thing is hot and it smells amazing.

5. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSecond, it heats the air around it in a split second.

6. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe air gets squeezed and shoved out of the way, and it expands very fast.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOh, like the fireworks store popping all its sale balloons at once!

8. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThird, that fast-growing air makes a giant boom. That boom is thunder. Not balloons. Air.

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAir. Fine. But why do I see the flash first?

10. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFourth, light travels much faster than sound. So the flash gets to you first, and the boom comes along later.

11. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorCan I tell how far away the storm is?

12. 

    Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat is exactly the right question. Yes! Count the seconds from flash to boom. Every five seconds is roughly one mile away.

13. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo ten seconds means the storm is two miles away. That gives me time to finish my juice box.