During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the m

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

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1 only

2 and 3

1 and 3

None of the above produces the thunder

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2013

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Thunder is produced by the rapid expansion of air heated by lightning. Option 2 mentions lightning, which is the direct cause. Option 3, the violent upward movement of air and water particles (convection), is a necessary process within a thunderstorm that leads to charge separation and thus lightning. While not the direct producer of the *sound*, it is essential for the occurrence of lightning, which in turn produces thunder. Considering the options, 2 and 3 together represent the phenomena directly linked to the generation of thunder within a thunderstorm.

Lightning is an electrical discharge within a thunderstorm cloud or between the cloud and the ground. The intense heat from the lightning channel causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly, creating a shockwave that we hear as thunder. The violent upward movement of air and water particles (updrafts) within cumulonimbus clouds leads to the collision of particles, charge separation, and eventually the buildup of electrical potential that results in lightning. Thus, updrafts are integral to the process leading to lightning and, consequently, thunder.

Statement 1, the meeting of cumulonimbus clouds, is not a direct cause of thunder. Cumulonimbus clouds are the type of clouds where thunderstorms occur, but their meeting doesn’t produce the sound. While statement 2’s phrasing “lightning that separates the nimbus clouds” is awkward, it points to lightning as the cause. Statement 3 describes the process of convection which is a prerequisite for severe thunderstorms and lightning. In the context of MCQ options, 2 and 3 are the most relevant phenomena listed that lead to thunder.

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