I WONDER - What Did Ancient Civilizations Think Thunder Was?

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, proposed a theory on thunder and lightning. He believed thunder was caused by air released from clouds colliding with other clouds, and lightning was the result of this air catching fire. Today, we understand that lightning is actually electricity, not fire, but Aristotle's theory was influential for many years.

What was Aristotle's belief about how thunder worked?

How did Aristotle explain the relationship between clouds and thunder?

What did Aristotle think caused the loud noise of thunder?

According to Aristotle, what happens to the air when it leaves the cloud?

What is the modern understanding of lightning compared to Aristotle's theory?