How much time does it take for the sound of thunder to travel 1 mile?

The sound of thunder travels at approximately 1,125 feet per second in air at sea level under typical conditions. To convert this into miles, we recognize that there are 5,280 feet in a mile. By dividing the number of feet in a mile by the speed of sound, we can determine the time it takes for sound to travel that distance.

Calculating it:

1 mile = 5,280 feet

Speed of sound ≈ 1,125 feet per second

Time = Distance / Speed

Time = 5,280 feet / 1,125 feet per second ≈ 4.7 seconds

This means that when thunder occurs, the sound will generally take around 5 seconds to travel 1 mile. Thus, the answer reflects a realistic understanding of how sound propagates through the atmosphere after a lightning strike occurs.