A student witnesses a flash of lightning and then t = 6.5 s later the student hears the associated clap of thunder.
Sound travels at 343 m/s in the air. What distance from the student is the lightning strike, in meters?
To find the distance from the student to the lightning strike, we can use the fact that sound travels at a constant speed of 343 m/s in the air and that the time it takes for sound to reach the student is t = 6.5 s.
The distance traveled by sound can be calculated using the formula:
Distance = Speed × Time
Plugging in the given values:
Distance = 343 m/s × 6.5 s
Calculating this:
Distance ≈ 2229.5 m
Therefore, the lightning strike is approximately 2229.5 meters away from the student.
To find the distance from the student to the lightning strike, we can use the speed of sound and the time it took for the sound to reach the student after the flash of lightning.
Given:
Speed of sound = 343 m/s
Time = 6.5 s
The distance traveled by sound can be calculated using the formula:
Distance = Speed × Time
Substituting the given values:
Distance = 343 m/s × 6.5 s
Calculating this expression, we find:
Distance = 2229.5 m
Therefore, the lightning strike was approximately 2229.5 meters away from the student.