Question

At room temperature, sound travels at a speed of about 344 m/s in air. You see a distant flash of lightning and hear the thunder arrive 7.5 seconds later. How many miles away was the lighting strike? (Assume the light takes essentially no time to reach you).

Answer 1

1.6031 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the following data;

Speed = 344 m/s

Time = 7.5 seconds

To find how many miles away was the lighting strike;

Mathematically, the distance travelled by an object is calculated by using the formula;

Distance = speed * time

Distance = 344 * 7.5

Distance = 2580 meters

Next, we would have to convert the value of the distance travelled in meters to miles;

Conversion:

1609.344 metres = 1 mile

2580 meters = X mile

Cross-multiplying, we have;

X * 1609.344 = 2580

X = 2580/1609.344

X = 1.6031 miles