Sound Physics Example 4

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

Example 4

medium
A sonar pulse is sent from a ship and the echo returns 0.8 s0.8 \text{ s} later. The speed of sound in seawater is 1500 m/s1500 \text{ m/s}. How deep is the ocean floor at that point?

Solution

  1. 1
    The pulse travels to the ocean floor and back, so the one-way travel time is t=0.8/2=0.4 st = 0.8 / 2 = 0.4 \text{ s}.
  2. 2
    d=v×t=1500×0.4=600 md = v \times t = 1500 \times 0.4 = 600 \text{ m}

Answer

d=600 md = 600 \text{ m}
Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) uses echo timing to measure distances underwater. The total time must be halved because the sound makes a round trip.

About Sound

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

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Example 3 medium

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