Suppose that you hear a clap of thunder $16.2 s$ after seeing the associated lightning stroke. The speed of sound waves in air is $343 m / s$ and speed of light in air is $3 \times 10^{8} m s^{- 1}$ How far you are from the lightning stroke?

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Solution

Analyze the situation
We are given that the sound of thunder is heard after $16.2 s e c o n d s$ . So, $t = 16.2 s .$
The speed of the sound is given as $343 m / s$ . So, $v = 343 m / s .$
We are asked to find the distance $d$ .
Make appropriate Approximations
Let’s make a careful approximation that the sound travels at a uniform speed in a straight line. Then we are ready to apply the velocity-distance relation, $d = v t$ .
Put values in the formula and get the answer.
$d = (343) (16.2) = 5556.6 m$
Lightning must have taken place approximately $5556.60 m e t e r s$ away from the place from which it is heard.

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Suppose that you hear a clap of thunder 16.2s after seeing the associated lightning stroke. The speed of sound waves in air is 343m/s and speed of light in air is 3×108ms-1 How far you are from the lightning stroke?

Suppose that you hear a clap of thunder $16.2 s$ after seeing the associated lightning stroke. The speed of sound waves in air is $343 m / s$ and speed of light in air is $3 \times 10^{8} m s^{- 1}$ How far you are from the lightning stroke?