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Thunder & Lightning
Why does thunder follow lightning?
Inside a thundercloud, tiny ice crystals bump into each other and create electricity! Positive charges go to the top and negative charges sink to the bottom. When enough charge builds up — ZAP! — lightning strikes! Thunder is the sound of air expanding from the heat. Light travels faster than sound, so you see lightning before you hear thunder!
Fun Fact: Lightning is 5 times hotter than the surface of the Sun!
Count the seconds between lightning and thunder!