A lightning bolt heats air to 30,000 degrees Celsius
A lightning bolt's electrical discharge superheats air to a staggering 30,000 degrees Celsius, making it five times hotter than the sun's surface and creating thunder.
When lightning strikes, its massive electrical discharge instantly superheats the surrounding air to an astonishing 30,000 degrees Celsius. This temperature is about five times hotter than the sun's surface, which reaches around 5,500 degrees Celsius. This rapid heating causes air molecules to expand explosively, creating the thunder we hear.
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