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Topic: Science Question

The359
The bitch is back
Member # 37

posted

OK, I've thought about this plenty of times before but I never really got an answer.

Why does "heat lightening" (AKA Humidity Lightening) not have any Thunder to go along with it?

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"No, 3 & 6 are mandatory, so you only have to do them if you want"

Alex, fellow classmate, trying to explain an assignment (2/2/01)

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

Daniel
Active Member
Member # 453

posted

Because ... it's not as hot? Regular lightning is so hot it creates the closest thing to natural plasma on earth. I mean, the air around the bolt reaches millions of degrees. The shockwave created by this sudden burst of hot air expanding and displacing other air is what we hear as thunder.

So I guess "heat lightning" isn't nearly as hot. Also, i seem to recall that heat lightning doesn't occur in "bolts" but sort of happens spontaneously throughout a cloud. (I may be wrong on all of this, but I just thought I'd put in my two cents worth.)

Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

TSN
I'm... from Earth.
Member # 31

posted

I believe "heat lightning" is just lightning that's really far away. There's no thunder because it's just too far away to be heard.

I could be misinformed, of course...

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"I write messages on money.
It's my own form of social protest.
A letter printed on paper that no one will destroy.
Passed indiscriminantly across race, class, and gender lines
and written in the blood that keeps the beast alive
A quiet little hijacking on the way to the checkout counter.
and a federal crime.
I hope that someone will find my message one day when they really need it.
Like I do."
-Rage against the Machine

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

The359
The bitch is back
Member # 37

posted

Well, I know Heat Lightening actually is a bolt, but I don't think it moves as fast. It's also usually within a cloud, and a single bolt can span dozens of miles. Dunno about the heat thing though. You'd still thing any form of lightening would create SOME kind of sound.

------------------
"No, 3 & 6 are mandatory, so you only have to do them if you want"

Alex, fellow classmate, trying to explain an assignment (2/2/01)

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

Sol System
two dollar pistol
Member # 30

posted

What is heat lightning?

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Not even a god can deny that I have squared the circle of a static Earth and cubed the Earth sphere by rotating it once to a dynamic Time or Life Cube.
--
Gene Ray
****
Read three (three!) chapters of "Dirk Tungsten in...The Disappearing Planet" Or don't. You know, whatever.

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

TSN
I'm... from Earth.
Member # 31

posted

I am vindicated! Excelsior!

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

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