How Do You Calculate Air Temperature from Echo Delay and Speed of Sound?

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SUMMARY

The calculation of air temperature based on echo delay and the speed of sound involves using the formula for the speed of sound, which is influenced by temperature. In the given scenario, Jim's scream travels 300 meters and returns in 1.7 seconds, leading to a calculated speed of sound of 353 m/s. Using the formula Cair = 331.5 + (0.6 x θ), the temperature θ is determined to be 35.8 ºC. This result aligns with the established physics of sound propagation in air.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, specifically sound propagation.
  • Familiarity with the formula for calculating the speed of sound in air.
  • Knowledge of algebra for isolating variables in equations.
  • Access to reliable scientific resources, such as Wikipedia, for formula verification.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the derivation of the speed of sound formula in air.
  • Learn about the effects of temperature on sound speed.
  • Explore practical applications of sound speed calculations in various fields.
  • Investigate how altitude and humidity affect the speed of sound.
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching sound properties, and anyone interested in acoustics and temperature measurement through sound.

Moe_slow
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i need some help with this question.

"Jim is walking in a field and screams...the wall is 300 meters away it takes 1.7 seconds for the sound to come back...wat is the temperature in the air."

so i tried it as:

V=d/t
...= 300m/0.85s
...= 353m/s

from there i think i have to use the speed of sound formula and isolate the 0.59t. and then divide by it. i keep on getting a different answer then the one in my textbook.
 
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Cair= 331.5 + (0.6 x theta)
353 = 331.5 + (0.6 x theta)
theta = (353 - 331.5)/0.6
theta = 35.8 ºC

It's hot!
Notice that I get this formula from wikipedia, I could be wrong since I never learned this. But I read the article and it seems to be correct.

See- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
 
thanks its correct...
 

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