Solving for Distance of Iceberg from Ship: North Atlantic

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the distance of an iceberg from a sailing ship in the North Atlantic using the time it takes for a sound echo to return. The speed of sound in air at -10 degrees Celsius is calculated as 325.1 m/s. The total distance traveled by the sound is determined to be 780.24 meters, but since this distance includes the return trip, the actual distance to the iceberg is 390.24 meters, or 0.39024 kilometers. The key takeaway is the necessity to divide the total distance by two to find the one-way distance to the iceberg.

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sp00ky
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A saling ship is traveling in the North Atlantic at night. The captain is worried about ice bergs, but has no radar. The captain sounds the ship's horn and hears the echo 2.4s later. If the air temperature is -10degrees Celsius, how far away is the iceberg. I think I know how to do it but still dont' get the right answer. This is what I did.
V = 331m/s + 0.58 m/s/Celsius * (-10Celsius)
= 325.1m/s
D = V(T)
= 325.1m/s * 2.4s
= 780.24m
How come it always comes with this answer.. The answer is like .39km or somethin' but I can't seem to get it
 
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the distance you have found is the total distance the sound of the horns has traveled to reach the iceberg and to return to the captain. so you have to divide your anwer with 2.
 
the sound wave has traveled twice the distance, since it has to travel to the iceberg and back for the captain to hear it. hence it really take 2.4/2 seconds to get to the iceberg.

D=325.2m/s * 2.4/2s
D=390.24m = .39024km
 
Last edited:

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