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Science Explainer: What causes lightning and thunder?

Last updated 11 months ago

3 questions

Note from the author:

Read the passage What causes lightning and thunder?  Then answer the questions below.

Instructions

Read the passage What causes lightning and thunder?  Then answer the questions below.

Required

2

Required

2

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1

Question 1

1.

Drag each answer choice into the correct space. Not all answer choices will be used.
Lightning begins as ___________________  in a rain cloud. One wind lifts ___________________  from the bottom of the cloud to a much colder atmosphere. Meanwhile, another wind pushes _________________  down from the top of the cloud. This results in the stripping of ______________ . 

Other Answer Choices:

ice and hail

electric fields

static charges

columns of air

water droplets

electrons

Question 2

2.

Drag each statement to the correct box to show whether it is true of lightning or thunder.

It travels at a speed of about 12 miles per minute
It is caused by air that is rapidly contracting
It heats the air to extremely high temperatures
It is always the first of the two that is seen or heard

Lightning
Thunder

Question 3

3.

Which statements are true about how lightning is related to thunder? Select three correct answers.

Thunder causes lightning to happen by creating friction in the clouds that results in static charges. 

Lightning creates a column of air, which vibrates to create rumbles of thunder. 

Lightning can always be seen in the sky before thunder can be heard. 

The time between lightning and thunder determines the lightning's distance away. 

Lightning causes thunder to happen when its electric energy expands and then contracts. 