Why does the thunder from close lightning produce a BOOM and then a slow fade off? Why does it fade off instead of just stop? Conversely, why is thunder from far away a slow fade-on instead of an instant but quieter boom?
In: 797
The same reason why the ripples in a pond fade away when you throw a rock in it. The traveling wave dissipates over time as it expends energy moving outwards.
Same reason a car that’s driving away gets quieter, it’s travelling away from you.
If it stopped instantly, it would be travelling so fast that you’d be dead from the air being so hot, due to friction.
Not an answer so hopefully this doesn’t get removed but I live in Alpine NZ and when we get thunder it echoes through the hills, sometimes you can hear it for a very very long time.
Throw a brick into a pond. One very sudden impact, and over before you know it, but the waves ripple out and about for minutes. Something doesn’t have to be happening all the time for its consequences to be happening all the time.
As for the fading, notice how the waves are taller close to where the brick hit, and flatten out as they move further away from the brick and stretch out.
The same happens with lightning. It stirs up the atmosphere in a moment, but the waves in the atmosphere behave almost exactly like the waves in water: be nearby and you hear a tall wave (a lot of compressed air), be further away and you hear a short wave (less compressed air, because it spread out and evened out more before reaching you).
It’s like ripples in a pond the sound waves get bigger the further it gets away from its initial point
Thunderstorms are one of the most special experiences I’ve had. Like a unique blend of fear, awe, humility, respect, and curiosity, and excitement. It’s truly a natural shut the fuck up and pay attention experience for me.
Latest Answers