Question

What is the correct water depth for an echo travel time of 6 seconds? (for the purposes of this exercise, assume pressure and temperature effects on sound wave velocity are negligible.)?

Answer 1

In physics, there are empirical values for common important parameters. For example, the speed of sound is equal to 340 meters per second. Unlike the speed of light, the speed of sound is dependent on temperature and pressure. But in standard room conditions, the speed is 340 m/s. Using this value of speed, we can find the depth given the time. You should also note that the distance the echo travels is exactly the same distance that object travelled. Therefore,

Distance = 340 m/s * 6 seconds
Distance = 2,040 meters deep