Question

A student witnesses a flash of lightning and then t=2.5s later the student hears assiciated clap of thunder. (please show work) (Part A) Sound travels at 343 m?s in the air, What distance from the student is the lightning strikes, in meters? (Part B) Light travels at 3.0x108 m/s in the air. How long, t1, in seconds did it take the light to reach the student's eyes after the flash?

Answer 1

Answer:

857.5 m

2.8583×10⁻⁶ seconds

Explanation:

Time taken by the sound of the thunder to reach the student = 2.5 s

Speed of sound in air is 343 m/s

Speed of light is 3×10⁸ m/s

Distance travelled by the sound = Time taken by the sound × Speed of sound in air

⇒Distance travelled by the sound = 2.5×343 = 857.5 m

⇒Distance travelled by the sound = 857.5 m

Time taken by light = Distance the light travelled / Speed of light

$\text{Time taken by light}=\frac{857.5}{3\times 10^8}\\\Rightarrow \text{Time taken by light}=2.8583\times 10^{-6}$

Time taken by light = 2.8583×10⁻⁶ seconds