GED Science Practice

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Prepare for the GED Science Test with our comprehensive quizzes. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each providing hints and explanations. Ensure your success on the GED Science Exam!

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What causes thunder?

a. Earthquakes
b. Volcanic eruptions
c. Tornadoes
d. Air expanding along lightning paths

The correct answer is: d. Air expanding along lightning paths

Thunder is produced by the rapid expansion and contraction of air caused by the intense heat of lightning. When lightning strikes, it can heat the surrounding air to temperatures as high as 30,000 Kelvin (approximately 53,540 degrees Fahrenheit) in a fraction of a second. This extreme heating causes the air to expand explosively, which generates a shockwave that we hear as thunder. The other options involve natural phenomena that do not directly relate to the sound produced by lightning. Earthquakes, for instance, produce seismic waves and sounds due to ground vibrations but are not connected to thunder. Volcanic eruptions can generate sounds and ash clouds but do not produce thunder as a result of the electrical phenomenon of lightning. Tornadoes also create significant sound, mainly from wind movement and debris but do not produce thunder in the same way that the rapid heating and cooling of air surrounding a lightning bolt does.