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

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To calculate the distance of a lightning strike, the time delay of 7.0 seconds and the temperature of 15 °C are used. The speed of sound is calculated as 339.85 m/s using the formula V(sound)= 331 + (0.59)(T). The distance is then determined by multiplying the speed of sound by the time, resulting in approximately 2378.95 meters. It is noted that significant figures should be considered, as the initial measurements are given to two significant figures. The final answer should be rounded accordingly to maintain consistency with the provided data.
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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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