Thunder and lightning are caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding a lightning bolt. When lightning strikes, it heats the air around it to temperatures up to five times hotter than the surface of the sun. This rapid heating causes the air to expand quickly, creating a shock wave that we hear as thunder.
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MCQs
1. What is the temperature of a lightning bolt?
A) Cooler than the sun
B) As hot as the sun
C) Five times hotter than the sun
D) Room temperature
Answer: C. Five times hotter than the sun
Explanation: Lightning can heat the air around it to temperatures up to five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
2. What do we hear as thunder?
A) The sound of rain
B) The sound of the wind
C) The shock wave created by lightning
D) The sound of birds chirping
Answer: C. The shock wave created by lightning
Explanation: Thunder is the sound of the shock wave created by the rapid expansion of air surrounding a lightning bolt.
3. Which of the following is NOT caused by lightning?
A) Thunder
B) Hail
C) Wildfires
D) Power outages
Answer: B. Hail
Explanation: Hail is not caused by lightning but by strong updrafts in thunderstorms.
4. What should you do during a thunderstorm?
A) Stay indoors
B) Stand under a tree
C) Go for a swim
D) Fly a kite
Answer: A. Stay indoors
Explanation: It is important to stay indoors during a thunderstorm to avoid the dangers of lightning strikes.
5. True or False: Lightning can strike the same place twice.
A) True
B) False
Answer: A. True
Explanation: Lightning can strike the same place multiple times, especially tall objects like trees or buildings.
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