Actually, sound does not travel faster than light. In fact, light travels much faster than sound. The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792 kilometers per second, while the speed of sound in air is around 343 meters per second.
The reason we often see things before hearing the corresponding sound is due to the difference in the propagation speeds of light and sound. Light is an electromagnetic wave that travels extremely fast, allowing it to reach our eyes almost instantaneously over short distances. When we observe an event, the light reflecting off the objects involved in that event reaches our eyes quickly, enabling us to perceive the visual information almost instantly.
On the other hand, sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium, such as air, to travel through. When an event occurs, such as an explosion or a clap, the sound waves generated by the event take time to propagate through the air and reach our ears. This propagation speed is relatively slower compared to the speed of light. Therefore, there is often a noticeable delay between the visual stimulus reaching our eyes and the corresponding sound reaching our ears.
However, it's important to note that the perception of the timing of an event can be influenced by various factors, such as the distance between the event and the observer, the intensity of the sound, and individual differences in perception. In certain cases, such as when the distance between the observer and the event is relatively small, the time difference between the visual and auditory stimuli may be negligible or imperceptible.