Question

If a submarine’s sonar can measure echo times with a precision of 0.0100 s, what is the smallest difference in distances it can detect? (Assume that the submarine is in the ocean, not in fresh water.)

a) 1.72 m
b) 3.44 m
c) 6.88 m
d) 10.29 m

Answer 1

The smallest difference in distances that a submarine's sonar can detect is 15 meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

The smallest difference in distances that a submarine's sonar can detect can be found by calculating the distance travelled by the sound during the precision time interval. The speed of sound in ocean water is approximately 1500 m/s. Given a precision of 0.0100 s, we can calculate the smallest difference in distances as follows:

Smallest Difference in Distances = Speed of Sound x Precision Time Interval

= 1500 m/s x 0.0100 s

= 15 m

Therefore, the smallest difference in distances that the submarine's sonar can detect is 15 meters.