12 DANGER 



Q. Why is the THUNDER often several 

 moments AFTER the FLASH ? 



A. The flash travels nearly a million 

 times faster than the thunder; if, there- 

 fore, the thunder has far to come, it will 

 not reach the earth till a considerable 

 time after the flash. 



Q. Can we not tell the DISTANCE of a thunder- 

 cloud, by observing the interval which elapses 

 between the flash and the peal ? 



A. Yes; the flash is instantaneous, 

 but the thunder will take a whole second 

 of time to travel 380 yards : hence, if the 

 flash is 5 seconds before the thunder, 

 the cloud is 1900 yards off. 



(i. e. 380 X 5 = 1900 yards.) 

 Q. What PLACES are most DANGEROUS to be 



in, during a STOEM ? 



A. It is very dangerous to be near a 



tree, or lofty building ; it is dangerous 



also, to be near a river, or any running 



water. 



Q. Why is it DANGEROUS to be NEAR a TREE, 

 or lofty building, during a thunder-storm ? 



A. Because a tall pointed object, 



* The speed of lightning is so great, that it would go 

 480 times round the earth in one minute : whereas, thunder 

 would go scarcely 13 miles in the same space of time. 



