Calculate Distance of Lightning Strike with Temperature and Time | Homework Help

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the distance of a lightning strike based on the time delay between seeing the flash and hearing the thunder, with temperature affecting the speed of sound. The subject area includes concepts from physics related to sound propagation and measurement accuracy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the distance using the speed of sound formula and the time delay. Some participants question the treatment of the speed of light as infinite and raise concerns about significant figures in the final answer.

Discussion Status

Participants have provided feedback on the calculations, noting the importance of significant figures. There is an ongoing exploration of how to properly express the answer in terms of significant digits, with some guidance offered on resources for understanding this concept.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the original poster's unfamiliarity with significant figures, which may affect their understanding of the problem's requirements.

sciencegeek101
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Homework Statement


1. A flash of lightning is seen followed by the sound of the thunder 7.0 s later. If the temperature outside is 15 °C, how far away was the lightning strike?


Homework Equations


V(sound)= 331m/s+(0.59)(T)
D=V(T)


The Attempt at a Solution


V(sound)=331+(0.59)(15)
V(sound)= 339.85

d=VT
d= (339.85)(7)
=2378.95
Therefore the lightning struck 2378.95m away
 
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Well done - treating the speed of light as infinite is probably good enough here.
You may want to watch the sig figs though - all measurements are quoted to 2 sig figs. but your answer has six.
 
Simon Bridge said:
Well done - treating the speed of light as infinite is probably good enough here.
You may want to watch the sig figs though - all measurements are quoted to 2 sig figs. but your answer has six.

Ok thank you, if I were to put this in significant digits what would the answer be? I am not really familiar with sig digs :/
 

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