Distance from Flash: Soldier 20°C, 6 secs After Cannon Fire

AI Thread Summary
To determine the distance from the flash of a cannon to the soldier, the speed of sound at 20°C is 342 m/s. Given that the soldier hears the sound 6 seconds after seeing the flash, the calculation for distance is D = 342 m/s * 6 s. This results in a distance of 2052 meters. The discussion notes that the speed of light is negligible in this context, as it reaches the soldier almost instantaneously. The focus remains on using the speed of sound for accurate distance measurement.
demode
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
1. A soldier hears the sound of the firing of a distant cannon 6.00 seconds after seeing the flash. If the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, how far is the soldier from the flash?



2. D = R * T



3. Since the speed of sound at 0 degrees Celsius is 330 m/s, the speed of sound at 20 degrees Celsius is 342 m/s.
With that being said, how do you find the distance? D = 342 * 6 ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Can anyone give me some insight?
 
Why are you unsure of your approach?
 
The only thing that could make this hard is if you wanted to take light into account. It takes some time for light to reach the soldier first, but its almost instant and makes no significant difference
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top