Richard Hammond visits Lightning Testing and Consultancy in Oxfordshire to take part in laboratory experiments that demonstrate the effect of thunder within controlled conditions.
There are four stages to the demonstration. The first is a test firing of the experiment, where the volume of the thunder can be heard.
Next, a series of candles and slow motion cameras are used to show how thunder鈥檚 shock wave travels, extinguishing the candles. An explanation of how temperature differences cause thunder is given outside using a lens and wood.
A typical bolt of lightning will reach 20,000 degrees Celsius. Because of this heat, the air around it expands into a shock wave.
A third iteration of the demonstration sees thunder breaking light-bulbs, and slow motion allows viewers to distinguish between the shock wave (thunder) and the lighting.
The final demonstration allows the shock wave itself to be seen.
Teacher Notes
This short film provides useful background information for KS3 classes studying storms. For KS4 / GCSE physics, this short film can form an introduction to forces, where students can consider experiment design and the practical application of laboratory science.
Curriculum Notes
This topic appears in geography and physics at KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 5 in Scotland. At GCSE it appears in AQA, OCR A, EDEXCEL, EDUQAS, WJEC and CCEA, in SQA at National 5.
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