Final answer:
The question pertains to the Physics of sound waves and echolocation used by bats, intended for high school students. The wavelength of an 80 kHz sound wave traveling at 343 m/s is approximately 4.29 mm, and the ability of bats to detect close objects is highly dependent on echo return times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question falls under the category of Physics, given that it involves the analysis of sound waves, their frequencies, wavelengths, and the use of echoes for navigation—a process known as echolocation, which bats use extensively. Specifically, the student is trying to understand the change in frequency of sound waves as heard by a bat, which relates to the Doppler effect. The detailed calculations needed to find the wavelength of sound waves and understanding wave functions would also suggest this topic is appropriate for high school level students who are studying wave phenomena in Physics.
To calculate the wavelength of the sound waves that bats use, which are in the ultrasonic frequency range up to 100 kHz with a given speed of sound in air (V = 343 m/s), we can use the formula λ = V / f where λ is the wavelength and f is the frequency. For the given frequency of 80 kHz, the wavelength (λ) would be 343 m/s divided by 80,000 Hz, which equals approximately 0.00429 meters, or 4.29 mm.
When considering echo times and the ability of bats to detect very close objects, it is important to remember that the speed of sound can vary with temperature, but within a normal range, this does not significantly affect the speed of different frequencies in air.