When thunder rumbles in the distance, there's a quick and simple way to figure out how close the lightning actually struck based on the speed of sound.
After you see a flash of lightning, start counting. It takes about 5 seconds for the sound of thunder, which originates from lightning bolts, to travel 1 mile. If you can count to 10 between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, then the flash occurred about 2 miles away.
This trick works because light travels much faster than sound. Lightning is visible almost instantly, while thunder takes time to reach your ears, depending on how far away the strike occurred.
A few seconds of counting can do more than satisfy curiosity it can also help you stay safe when a storm is approaching.
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