mennydörgéssel

Mennydörgés is the Hungarian word for thunder. It refers to the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air heated by a lightning strike. When lightning passes through the atmosphere, it superheats the air in its path to temperatures exceeding 30,000 Kelvin. This intense heating causes the air to expand explosively, creating a shockwave. This shockwave is what we perceive as the sound of thunder.

The characteristics of thunder, such as its loudness and duration, depend on several factors. The distance of the lightning strike from the observer is a primary determinant; closer strikes produce louder and sharper sounds, while more distant ones are fainter and may sound like a rumble. The intensity of the lightning bolt itself also influences the sound. The shape and composition of the terrain can also affect how thunder is heard, as sound waves can bounce off surfaces like mountains or buildings, creating echoes and reverberations.

Thunder is an integral part of a thunderstorm, always accompanying lightning. The delay between seeing a lightning flash and hearing the thunder can be used to estimate the distance to the storm. Since light travels much faster than sound, this time difference provides a practical method for assessing the storm's proximity. The scientific study of thunder falls under the broader field of meteorology, specifically relating to atmospheric electricity and acoustics.