thunder: Quick Facts

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Two-part diagram explaining how to estimate lightning distance by timing thunder, and how thunder is heard differently based on location. The top section shows sound waves from a lightning flash reaching an observer, with a scale indicating that thunder is heard about three seconds after the flash for each kilometer, or five seconds for each mile, up to five kilometers or three miles. The bottom section depicts two people in cars at different distances from the main lightning channel and a branc

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