How Do You Determine Sound Intensity and Speed of an Enemy Submarine?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating sound intensity and the speed of an enemy submarine based on parameters such as intensity level, frequency, and the speed of sound in seawater. The intensity of the ping received was determined to be 4.37 x 10^-4, and the time taken for the ping to travel was calculated as 0.278 seconds. The apparent frequency equation was utilized to analyze the enemy submarine's speed and direction, confirming it was moving towards the user's submarine. The intensity level of a subsequent ping, when the user was 2 kilometers away, was found to be 72.94 dB.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of sound intensity and decibels (dB)
  • Knowledge of the Doppler effect and apparent frequency equations
  • Familiarity with basic physics concepts such as speed, distance, and time
  • Proficiency in calculations involving sound propagation in seawater
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Doppler effect in fluid dynamics
  • Learn about sound intensity calculations and their applications
  • Explore the physics of sound propagation in different mediums
  • Investigate submarine acoustics and sonar technology
USEFUL FOR

Submarine operators, naval engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in underwater acoustics and sonar technology.

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Homework Statement


You are the captain of a submarine that is on a secret mission deep inside enemy waters. Suddenly your ship is “pinged” by another sub. You are able to determine that the ping comes from the North, has an intensity level of 86.4 dB, and has a frequency of 7270 Hz. You know that the standard ping on an enemy sub has an apparent frequency of 7230 Hz and emits 990 Watts of power. At the instant you get pinged your sub is moving Northward at 14.3 m/s. Note: the speed of sound in sea water is 1530 m/s.
(a) What is the intensity of the ping you hear?
(b) How long did it take the “ping” to travel from the enemy sub to your sub?
(c) How fast is the enemy sub moving? Are they moving toward you or away from you?
(d) You take evasive action and head South to get make sure you get as far as possible from the enemy sub. You are exactly are two kilometers away from the enemy sub when you hear the next ping. What is the intensity level of the ping that you hear this time?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I found the intensity in (a) to be 4.37 * 10^-4
Then I found the time it took in (b) to be 0.278 seconds
I know that in (c) it should be moving toward you, but I don't know how to figure out the source's speed. What equation should I be using?
Then for (d) I found the new intensity level to be 72.94dB
 
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I believe you need to use the apparent frequency equation f'=\frac{v\pm v_D}{v\pm v_s}f

where f' if the apparent frequency; f is the real frequency;v_s is speed of source; v_d is speed of detector; v is the speed of sound through that particular medium.

You need to make commen sense assumptions as to whether to use + or -. For example if f' is higher than f then their are some different possiblities. What would making the numerator/denominator bigger/smaller do to the overal value of the fraction (that is in fact f')?

Casey
 

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