Question

You see a lightning bolt flash in the distant sky. You hear the corresponding thunder 6.8 seconds later. If the temperature is 28º C, how far away in, kilometers, from you did the lightning strike?

Answer 1

Answer:

$Distance = 2.4\ km$

Explanation:

Given

$Time (t) = 6.8s$

$Temperature = 28C$

Required

Determine the distance at which the lighting struck

First, we need to determine the speed at which the lighting struck because the peed of sound varies with temperature.

At about 28C, the speed of sound is 346m/s

So, we have the following:

$Speed = 346m/s$

$Time = 6.8s$

Distance is calculated as thus:

$Distance = Speed * Time$

$Distance = 346m/s * 6.8s$

$Distance = 2352.8$

Divide by 1000 to get distance equivalent in kilometers

$Distance = \frac{2352.8km}{1000}$

$Distance = 2.3528km$

$Distance = 2.4\ km$ ---- Approximated