Question

The speed of sound in air at 20° C is 343 m/s. Its speed in water at 20° C is 1,483 m/s. How much longer would it take for sound in air to travel 10 km than in water?

Answer 1

Answer:

22.41 seconds longer

Explanation:

• Sound is a longitudinal wave that requires a material medium for transmission hence called a mechanical wave.
• Examples of medium in which sound travels in are water and air.

From the question give;

Speed of sound in air at 20°C is 343 m/s

Speed of sound in water at 20°C is 1,483 m/s

We are given a distance of 10 Km or 10,000 m

We need to finder how much longer it will take for the sound to travel in air.

Time = Distance ÷ Speed

Therefore;

Time taken in Air = Distance ÷ speed of sound in air

                             = 10000 m ÷ 343 m/s

                             = 29.15 seconds

Time taken in water = Distance ÷ speed of sound in water

                                 = 10,000 ÷ 1,483 m/s

                                 = 6.74 seconds

Difference in time = 29.15 seconds - 6.74 seconds

                              = 22.41 seconds

Therefore, it takes 22.41 seconds longer for sound to travel through air than water.