Question

An ocean fishing boat is drifting just above a school oftuna on a foggy day. Without warning, an engine backfireoccurs on another boat at a distance of d = 1.55 km(Figure 1). The speed of sound in air is 343 m/s, and insea water is 1560 m/s.How much time elapsed before the backfire is heard by the fishermen? Assume that the fishermen hears the sound that travels only through air.

Answer 1

For the fisher man use speed of sound in air as v = 343

d= vt

t= d/v

where:

t= time

d= distance = 1.55 km = 1550 m

v= speed= 343 m/s

t= 1550m / 343 m/s = 4.52 s