How is sound and electrical energy created during thunderstorms?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter shashankac655
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    storms thunder
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the generation of sound and electrical energy during thunderstorms, focusing on the mechanisms behind charge accumulation in storm clouds and the production of thunder. Participants explore various aspects of this phenomenon, including the relationship between heat energy and electrical discharge.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that energy is released when water vapor condenses into water, questioning how this relates to the observed electrical discharge and sound during thunderstorms.
  • Another participant suggests that while the cause of lightning is not fully understood, thunder is explained as a shockwave resulting from the rapid heating of air by lightning.
  • A different viewpoint mentions that static electricity can be generated by rubbing a cat, drawing a parallel to lightning generation in other natural events like landslides and volcanic eruptions.
  • A humorous remark is made about picturing two cats being rubbed together, indicating a light-hearted take on the discussion of static electricity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the exact causes of lightning, with some acknowledging that the phenomenon is not fully understood. There are multiple viewpoints on the generation of electrical energy and sound in thunderstorms, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about energy transformations and the definitions of electrical discharge and sound generation, which are not fully explored or clarified.

shashankac655
How is sound and electrical energy generated in a thunder storm?

i know that in thunder storms large amounts of energy is released when the water vapour in the clouds condenses into water,but that is supposed to be in the form of heat energy (the same heat energy that was absorbed by the water to form vapour),but what actually happens is that
we see a huge electric discharge and a lot of sound,how does charge accumulation occur in a storm cloud and why??... and how is sound energy generated?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
A good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning

We're not exactly sure of the cause of lightning though.

The thunder is a lot simpler, it is a shockwave created when the lightning, which is many thousands of degrees in temperature rapidly heats the air causing it to expand.
 
when you rub a cat you generate static electricity.

lightening is also generated in landslides and volcanic eruptions
 
granpa said:
when you rub a cat you generate static electricity.

lightening is also generated in landslides and volcanic eruptions

For some reason I pictured two cats being rubbed together...lol.
 

Similar threads

Is it possible to transform an electric thunderstorm into an EMP storm?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
High School Tornado Biggest Lightning Thunder BOOM Explosion EVER
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K
Undergrad Limit to generating static electricity via contact?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
10K
Electric Potential Difference during thunder storm
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
High School Physical explanation for thunder
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
High School Cooling effect of evaporation occurs even if the surroundings are colder?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad How does evaporation generate cooling? Swamp coolers edition
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
Undergrad Is the Poynting Vector Field the Only Factor in Energy Flow in Circuits?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
Undergrad How to calculate the mass of gas in a tank?
  • · Replies 109 ·
4
Replies
109
Views
9K
Undergrad Meaning of "Static Electricity" and Physical Interpretation
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K