Final answer:
The time between sending and receiving a sound pulse using sonar to measure a water depth of 860.0 m is approximately 1.19 seconds, given the speed of sound in sea water is 1,450 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a research vessel uses sonar to measure the depth of a body of water, it sends sound pulses downward which reflect off the bottom and return to the vessel. The time the sound pulse takes to travel to the ocean floor and back is used to calculate the depth. Given that the speed of sound in sea water is approximately 1,450 meters per second (m/s), we can use the formula:
Depth = Speed of Sound × (Time/2)
In the given scenario, the depth of the water is 860.0 m. To find the time it takes for the sound to travel down and reflect back, we rearrange the formula as:
Time = (Depth × 2) / Speed of Sound
Therefore, the time between sending and receiving the sound pulse is:
Time = (860.0 m × 2) / 1,450 m/s
Time = 1,720 m / 1,450 m/s
Time = 1.1862 seconds
After rounding to three significant digits, the time taken for the sound pulse to travel to the sea floor and back is approximately 1.19 seconds.