eh, ..., regardless of the zigzag it's still electromagnetic radiation. So, it's the speed of light in an atmosphere for the specific density of the atmosphere at the time the strike occurs.
the speed of the extension of the lighting bold, or the ionization path, what we call the bolt, is probably fairly constant depending on temperature and pressure of the air
the speed of LIGHT is a constant of the universe
the speed of sound (thunder) depends on properties of the air.
when you run your speed is more or less the same no matter what path you follow.
Unless you define the average speed as the time and distance from start to finish.
if you do it that way, the runner that circles a track and comes back to the starting line has ZERO speed fro the run
Lightning follows the path of least resistance, meaning it takes the easiest, quickest route it can possibly take. If it went straight, it would most likely be slower...
Imagine a running back dodging defensive lineman, sure he could ran faster in a straight line, but he would hit things that would slow him down, and it would take a longer time to run to the endzone...
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eh, ..., regardless of the zigzag it's still electromagnetic radiation. So, it's the speed of light in an atmosphere for the specific density of the atmosphere at the time the strike occurs.
the speed of the extension of the lighting bold, or the ionization path, what we call the bolt, is probably fairly constant depending on temperature and pressure of the air
the speed of LIGHT is a constant of the universe
the speed of sound (thunder) depends on properties of the air.
when you run your speed is more or less the same no matter what path you follow.
Unless you define the average speed as the time and distance from start to finish.
if you do it that way, the runner that circles a track and comes back to the starting line has ZERO speed fro the run
Lightning follows the path of least resistance, meaning it takes the easiest, quickest route it can possibly take. If it went straight, it would most likely be slower...
Imagine a running back dodging defensive lineman, sure he could ran faster in a straight line, but he would hit things that would slow him down, and it would take a longer time to run to the endzone...
No, I never wondered that. Good question.