UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 21
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
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct Option: D
Explanation: Thunder is the shock wave created when lightning heats air extremely rapidly, causing explosive expansion; none of the three mechanisms states this correctly.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - Wrong: the collision or meeting of thunderclouds does not generate the thunder sound.
B: Incorrect - Wrong: lightning produces thunder by heating air, not by physically separating nimbus clouds; strong updrafts are not the sound mechanism.
C: Incorrect - Wrong: neither cloud collision nor updrafts directly explains thunder.
D: Correct - Correct: none of statements 1–3 accurately describes the rapid-heating-and-expansion mechanism.