If you see the flash and then count the number of seconds until the thunder.
Take the speed of sound at 340.29 m/s = 0.211 miles per second. A good estimate is for every 5 seconds of delay equals 1 mile away. I answered a question similar to this one, earlier today.
You would have a very tough time, because that isn't the formula to calculate work. (distance) divided by (time) is the formula to calculate speed. The formula to calculate work is: (force) multiplied by (distance).
Speed = distance divided by time
Speed = Distance divided by Time
length
distance and force work=distance/ force
heat lightning
heat Lightning
Start counting when you see lightning. Stop counting when you hear thunder. Divide the seconds by 5. Example: You count 19 seconds. 19 divided by 5 would mean the lightning you seen was approximately 3.8 miles away. If you count 30 seconds or less, don't go outside.
heatlightning
Count the time in seconds between a lightning flash and the thunder clap. Five seconds delay equals 1 mile in distance.
Sheet lightning and heat lightning are descriptive terms rather than scientific. Sheet lighting is cloud to cloud lightning that is viewed from such a distance that there is no sound. Heat lightning can be either cloud to cloud or cloud to ground at same distance with the added element of color tinting from atmospheric particles as with a sunset.
5 miles away
That depends on the speed. Divide the distance by the speed to calculate this.That depends on the speed. Divide the distance by the speed to calculate this.That depends on the speed. Divide the distance by the speed to calculate this.That depends on the speed. Divide the distance by the speed to calculate this.
time = distance ÷ speed
You would have a very tough time, because that isn't the formula to calculate work. (distance) divided by (time) is the formula to calculate speed. The formula to calculate work is: (force) multiplied by (distance).
When lightning appears in the remote distance and appears to produce no thunder sound, it is popularly known as "heat lightning." Meteorologists will tell you that there really is no such thing as a distinct type of lightning that is not followed by thunder. All lightning produces thunder, but it is only audible for a distance of some 15-20 miles from the storm. At night, lightning can be seen for distances of up to 125 miles if the conditions are right. So when lightning is seen but no thunder is heard, you are simply too far away from the storm.
When lightning appears in the remote distance and appears to produce no thunder sound, it is popularly known as "heat lightning." Meteorologists will tell you that there really is no such thing as a distinct type of lightning that is not followed by thunder. All lightning produces thunder, but it is only audible for a distance of some 15-20 miles from the storm. At night, lightning can be seen for distances of up to 125 miles if the conditions are right. So when lightning is seen but no thunder is heard, you are simply too far away from the storm.