Question

If you shout into the Grand Canyon, your voice travels at the speed of sound (340 m/s) to the bottom of the canyon and back, and you hear the echo. How deep is the Grand Canyon in a spot where you can hear your echo 6.4 seconds after you shout?

Answer 1

Hey there!!

Basic formula - SPEED = DISTANCE / TIME

Speed given - 340 m/s

Time = 6.4 seconds

Distance - This is the tricky point : As this is an echo the distance would be doubled. The first distance is when the person shouts and the second distance is when the voice echoes or comes back to the person.

Let's take the distance as ' x '

But with echo, the distance = ' 2x '

Now, getting everything into one equation :

340 = 2x / 6.4

Multiplying by 6.4 on both sides :

2176 = 2x

Dividing by 2 on both sides

2176 / 2 = x

x = 1088

The distance or the depth = 1088 m

Hope my answer helps!!