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American Morning

Ask CNN: Why Do You See Lightning Before You Hear Thunder?

Aired June 18, 2001 - 10:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIELLE HANCHARICK, NORCROSS, GEORGIA: Hello, my name is Danielle Hancharick, and I'm from Norcross, Georgia. I wanted to ask CNN why you see lightning before you hear thunder.

ELLEN PRAEGER, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI: Because light travels faster than sound. So even if lightning and thunder were to happen almost simultaneously, you would see the lightning before you would hear the thunder because of the speed of light versus sound.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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