What is the time lapse between seeing a lightning strike and hearing the thunder if the lightning flash is 47 km away? The speed of light waves in air is 3 * 108 m/s and the speed of sound waves in air is 333 m/s.

141.14098 secs

Explanation:

Time taken to see the lightning flash can be gotten from:

Velocity = distance/time

Time = distance/velocity

Time = (47 * 1000) / (3 * 10^8)

Time = 0.0001567 secs

Time taken to hear the thunder can be gotten from:

Velocity = distance/time

Time = distance/velocity

Time = (47 * 1000) / (333)

Time = 141.14114 secs

The time lapse between the lightning flash and the thunder will be:

141.14114 - 0. 0001567

= 141.14098 secs