Sound Physics Example 3

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

medium

A person shouts toward a cliff and hears the echo

4 \text{ s}

later. How far is the cliff? Use

v = 340 \text{ m/s}

1
The sound travels to the cliff and back, so the one-way time is $t = 4/2 = 2 \text{ s}$ .
2
$d = vt = 340 \times 2 = 680 \text{ m}$

Answer

d = 680 \text{ m}

Echo problems require remembering that sound makes a round trip. The total distance traveled is twice the distance to the reflecting surface.

About Sound

A longitudinal mechanical wave that travels through a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) via alternating compressions and rarefactions of particles.

Thunder is heard [formula] after lightning is seen. How far away was the lightning strike? Use the s

A sound wave in air has a wavelength of [formula]. What is its frequency? Is this audible? Use [form

A sonar pulse is sent from a ship and the echo returns [formula] later. The speed of sound in seawat