Final answer:
Thunder is a longitudinal wave, while lightning is a transverse wave. Longitudinal waves have the disturbance in the same direction as the propagation, while transverse waves have the disturbance perpendicular to the propagation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thunder is a longitudinal wave, while lightning is a transverse wave.
Longitudinal waves are waves in which the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation. Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air particles due to the intense heat of lightning. The disturbance in the air travels as a compression and rarefaction wave, creating the sound we hear as thunder.
On the other hand, lightning is an electromagnetic wave that travels in a transverse motion. It consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate perpendicular to the direction of the wave. This allows us to see the light emitted by lightning.