How Fast Does Sound Travel?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How fast does sound travel?

The Big Idea

Sound travels about 343 meters every second in air at room temperature! That is about 1,235 kilometers an hour. It is fast, but light is much, much faster than that.

The Speed

Step one: the speed. In air at room temperature, sound moves about 343 meters every second. That is about 1,235 kilometers an hour, far faster than a speeding car. A jet airliner flies at about 900 kilometers an hour, so sound is even faster than that.

Light Is Faster

Step two: light is faster. Light is almost a million times faster than sound. So you see a flash of light at nearly the instant it happens, but the sound arrives later.

Lightning and Thunder

Step three: lightning and thunder. That is why you see lightning before you hear thunder. It takes sound about 3 seconds to go 1 kilometer, so a 6 second gap means 2 kilometers.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Sound travels 343 meters each second. Light is far, far faster. The flash arrives almost instantly. The thunder arrives seconds later, if the storm is far away.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Every 3 seconds between flash and thunder is about 1 kilometer. Counting is a safe way to see how far a storm is. Light is nearly a million times faster than sound. Stay indoors during storms, and stay back from windows.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, take the lab challenge! During a storm, stay safely indoors, a little back from the windows. When you see a flash, count the seconds until the thunder rumbles. Every 3 seconds is about 1 kilometer away. How far was it?

Outro

Sound is fast, but light is much faster, and that is why thunder trails lightning. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!