Engineering Mechanics: depth of crater

In summary, the depth of the crater of the Taal volcano was calculated by dropping a bomb from a helicopter and measuring how long it took for the sound of the explosion to reach the helicopter. Using the speed of sound and the time it took for the sound to reach the helicopter, the depth of the crater was determined to be 2015 meters. The bomb fell for approximately 3 seconds before reaching the surface of the crater. It took the sound 9 seconds to reach the helicopter, indicating that the helicopter was approximately 2010 meters above the crater at the time of the explosion.
  • #1
Joe_1234
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The depth of the crater of the Taal volcano was calculated in the following manner: From a helicopter flying vertically upward at 6m/s. A small bomb was released at the instant the helicopter was 20m above the crater surface. The sound of explosion was heard 9sec later. If the speed of sound is 335m/s, what is the depth of the crater?
 
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  • #2
I would begin by writing a function that expresses the helicopter's height (in meters) above the surface as a function of time (measured in seconds), where \(t=0\) corresponds to the instant the bomb was dropped.

Then, please answer these questions:
  • If \(d\) is the depth of the crater, how far did the bomb fall and how long would it take to fall that distance (presumably ignoring drag)?
  • How long would it take for the sound of the explosion to reach the rising helicopter?
 

1. How is the depth of a crater determined in engineering mechanics?

The depth of a crater is determined by the impact energy of the object, the properties of the impacting object and the surface it is impacting, and the angle of impact.

2. What factors affect the depth of a crater?

The factors that affect the depth of a crater include the mass and velocity of the impacting object, the density and strength of the surface it is impacting, and the angle of impact.

3. How does the angle of impact affect the depth of a crater?

The angle of impact plays a significant role in determining the depth of a crater. A more oblique angle of impact will result in a shallower crater, while a more perpendicular angle of impact will result in a deeper crater.

4. Can the depth of a crater be predicted accurately?

While there are equations and models that can estimate the depth of a crater, it is difficult to predict the exact depth as it can vary depending on the properties of the impacting object and surface, as well as other factors such as atmospheric conditions.

5. How is the depth of a crater used in engineering?

The depth of a crater is often used in impact studies and risk assessments for structures and vehicles. It can also be used to determine the severity of an impact and the potential damage it may cause.

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