2013
Q. 72
Set A
Geography
Physical Geography
During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the
- meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky
- lightning that separates the nimbus clouds
- violent upward movement of air and water particles
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Smart Elimination
Thunder is a sound. Sound happens after the lightning strikes. The lightning creates the sound. The sound doesn't create the lightning.
Potential Trap
Confusing the *cause* of thunder (Sound) with the *cause* of the storm (Clouds/Updraft).
Answer Key & Explanation
Answer: DThe correct answer is Option D.
Explanation:
- Thunder is the sound caused by lightning.
- Mechanism: Lightning is a massive discharge of electricity that heats the surrounding air to ~30,000°C in a split second. This causes the air to expand explosively, creating a shock wave that we hear as thunder.
- Option Analysis:
- (1) Meeting of clouds: This describes storm formation, not the sound itself.
- (2) Lightning separating clouds: Lightning connects charge centers, it doesn't 'separate' clouds. And while lightning causes thunder, the description is physically vague/incorrect.
- (3) Upward movement: Describes the draft in a cell, not the sound.
- Strictly speaking, thunder is produced by the rapid expansion of air due to lightning heat. None of the statements accurately describe this physical mechanism of sound production.
Value Addition
- Cumulonimbus: The 'Thunderhead' cloud.
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Questions
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Difficulty Assessment
hard
Foundational question based on core concepts.