Why Do We See Lightning Before Thunder?

The clouds get dark, the wind picks up [rain] The rain starts tapping on your cup And then — [lightning crack] FLASH! A crack of light! You wait... you wait... [thunder] BOOM! What a night!

Flash comes first and boom comes after Lightning, thunder — what's the matter? Flash comes first and boom comes after Why the gap? Let's solve this chapter!

They happen at the very same time The flash and boom, the crash and chime Lightning strikes — it makes them BOTH The light AND sound — that is the oath

But light is FAST — the fastest thing! Faster than a bird can wing Faster than a rocket flies Light is instant to your eyes

Light is fast! Light is fast! Nothing's faster, unsurpassed! Sound is slow — well, slower though Takes its time to say hello!

Sound is fast for normal stuff Faster than a car — that's tough! But compared to light — oh no, oh my Sound is slow across the sky

So the flash arrives like THAT — right now! [rumbling] The boom comes rolling — here's the how: Sound takes seconds, rumbling through Rolling across the sky to you

Light is fast! Light is fast! Nothing's faster, unsurpassed! Sound is slow — well, slower though Takes its time to say hello!

How do we know? Here's what you do: Next storm, try this — it's fun, it's true! See the flash? Start counting then: One Mississippi, two, three... WHEN

you hear the boom — that's how you'll know how far away the lightning show! Five seconds means about one mile Count it out and count with style!

Light is fast! Light is fast! Nothing's faster, unsurpassed! Sound is slow — well, slower though Takes its time to say hello!

Flash and boom — the very same moment But light arrives, a speed component Faster than anything else can go [distant thunder] And sound comes rumbling nice and slow!