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 8.0 seconds later.

Part A) How many miles away was the lightning strike? (Assume the light takes essentially no time to reach you.)

Answer 1

0.854miles away

Step-by-step explanation:

The relationship between the speed of the sound (v), the distance between the sound of thunder and the reflector (x) and the time (t) can be expressed as 2x = vt

Given the speed of sound = 344m/s

time = 8.0s

x = ?

Substituting this values into the formula to get x, we have;

2x = 344(8)

x = 344×8/2

x = 1376m

Converting this distance to miles

0.000621miles = 1m

x = 1376m

x = 1376×0.000621

x = 0.854miles

The lightening strikes 0.854miles away.

Answer 2

The lighten travels 0.853 miles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sound: Sound is a form of wave which is conveyed through an elastic medium from a vibrating body to a listener.

v = 2x/t .......................................... Equation 1

making x the subject of the equation

x = vt/2........................................ Equation 2

Where v = velocity of sound in air, x = distance traveled by the sound, t = time

Given: v = 344 m/s t = 8 s

Substituting into equation 2

x = 344(8)/2

x = 1376 m.

x = 1376×0.00062 miles = 0.853 miles

Thus the lighten travels 0.853 miles.