Hearing Thunder

JBJB1029 · **on:** May 06, 2009, 12:59:26 AM

Can you hear Thunder inside a cave, even if the cave is sealed up?

Malte279 · **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:41:12 AM

Let's put it like this, how many of us have already been in a sealed up cave during a thunderstorm so they could tell from firsthand experience?

:
I suppose it would depend on how loud the thunder is, how deep you are within the cave, how tightly it is sealed up, and how good your ears are.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2009, 09:36:07 AM

I would say it depends on how close the storm was to the cave, or more specifically, how close the lightning bolt strike is. It's lightning that causes the sound of thunder.

Depending on how close it is, you could probably even feel the thunder sound in the ground.

JBJB1029 · **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:16:50 AM

Quote from: DarkHououmon,May 6 2009 on 08:36 AM

I would say it depends on how close the storm was to the cave, or more specifically, how close the lightning bolt strike is. It's lightning that causes the sound of thunder.

Depending on how close it is, you could probably even feel the thunder sound in the ground.

If the storm is ontop of the cave, then will they be able to hear it or not?

Nick22 · **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:18:27 AM

Wow.. this is a completely random question.. and the answer is yes..

DarkHououmon · **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:25:20 AM

Yes, if the storm was taking place in the exact same location as the cave, they would hear it. It would also pose a danger. Lightning strikes, depending on what they strike and how dry it is (lightning can occur in both dry and wet weather), it could start a fire and the smoke could seem through the cracks in the opening and if the characters don't get out quickly, they could choke on the smoke.

Not entirely sure, but if lightning struck the cave, it could generate enough force to cause rocks to crack and fall and if the characters don't get out of the way, they could get struck by the falling pieces.

Saft · **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2009, 11:19:41 AM

Intriguing question as although I have not had first hand experience within a cave (I've never been in a cave to begin with, odd how that happens..) I would say that the answer would be yes. Yes the person or persons would be able to hear the thunder within the cave.

...May have to try that out one day for a science experiment.

Malte279 · **Reply #7 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:52:06 PM

I've been in several caves, but never during a thunderstorm. You mentioned that cave is to be sealed up. What kind of sealing up is it that we are talking about? If the only entrance to the cave collapses and is blocked by cubic meters of rock and dirt there is a good thing you won't hear anything of the thunder outside.
What kind of sealing up is it? And also how deep are the characters into the cave? Caves can be very long and only a limited amount of sound waves would likely hit the entrance of the cave so exactly as to be heard very far. Then again with the limited possibilities of dispersion and the resulting echo a noise created within a cave may be heard for a much longer distance than the same noise would be heared outside... but now I'm entering "The cave of the many voices"-territory

Saft · **Reply #8 on:** May 06, 2009, 03:42:37 PM

Yes, variables are important. I figured that the hypothetical person would be standing near to the cave's entrance.

However, it depends on the variables.

(a)Whether the cave is deep or not.
(b)Where the person is standing.

JBJB1029 · **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:17:49 PM

Quote from: Saft,May 6 2009 on 02:42 PM

Yes, variables are important. I figured that the hypothetical person would be standing near to the cave's entrance.

However, it depends on the variables.

(a)Whether the cave is deep or not.
(b)Where the person is standing.

The Cave will almost be like the the abandoned observatory that they found shelter in from the Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:24:38 PM

I don't think natural caves are formed like that, though.

JBJB1029 · **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:35:57 PM

Quote from: DarkHououmon,May 6 2009 on 09:24 PM

I don't think natural caves are formed like that, though.

It's just an example, the cave will lead to a canyon. Just like the abandoned observatory lead to a Aviary.

Cancerian Tiger · **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2009, 10:42:09 PM

I've spent time in numerous caves, but never during a thunderstorm, so I dunno

. Maybe it would be yes. Have ya checked Google or Yahoo?

JBJB1029 · **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2009, 11:22:33 PM

Quote from: Cancerian Tiger,May 6 2009 on 09:42 PM

I've spent time in numerous caves, but never during a thunderstorm, so I dunno . Maybe it would be yes. Have ya checked Google or Yahoo?

No :unsure: ?

DarkHououmon · **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2009, 11:30:18 PM

If you want to know if you can hear thunder while inside a cave, you could try doing a search on Google or Yahoo and see if something comes up.

JBJB1029 · **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2009, 10:21:00 AM

Quote from: DarkHououmon,May 7 2009 on 10:30 PM

If you want to know if you can hear thunder while inside a cave, you could try doing a search on Google or Yahoo and see if something comes up.

And if nothing comes up, then what?

DarkHououmon · **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2009, 10:31:53 AM

Read books on thunder storms and caves, probably, or try to ask someone who knows about storms and caves and such.

Is whether or not you can hear thunder inside a cave really that important of a factor for your story?

JBJB1029 · **Reply #17 on:** May 09, 2009, 12:37:08 AM

Quote from: DarkHououmon,May 8 2009 on 09:31 AM

Read books on thunder storms and caves, probably, or try to ask someone who knows about storms and caves and such.

Is whether or not you can hear thunder inside a cave really that important of a factor for your story?

It is important for the 19th Land Before Time movie.

Malte279 · **Reply #18 on:** May 09, 2009, 05:32:26 AM

^ For your fanfiction you mean. Please stop referring to your fanfictions as movies like they were anything to be greenlit to be released by universals. It will just cause confusion.

DarkHououmon · **Reply #19 on:** May 09, 2009, 09:37:59 AM

I don't honestly see how hearing thunder inside a cave could possibly be an important element to the story. No offense or anything.