How long would it take a sound wave to travel 150m

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to travel 150 meters in air, considering a temperature gradient from 5 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius. The speed of sound at 0 degrees Celsius is 331 m/s, increasing by 0.590 m/s for each degree Celsius rise in temperature. The correct calculation yields a travel time of approximately 0.67 seconds, which aligns with the recalculated values after addressing initial temperature assumptions. The back-of-the-book answer of 0.445 seconds was confirmed to be incorrect.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of sound wave propagation and temperature effects
  • Familiarity with calculus, specifically integration techniques
  • Knowledge of the speed of sound formula: v = d/t
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics related to gas behavior
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the relationship between temperature and sound speed in various gases
  • Learn advanced integration techniques for physics applications
  • Investigate the effects of altitude on sound speed and propagation
  • Study real-world applications of sound wave calculations in meteorology
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching sound wave concepts, and anyone interested in the practical applications of sound propagation in varying temperatures.

rpthomps
Messages
182
Reaction score
19

Homework Statement

The sound speed in air at 0 degrees Celsius is 331 m/s, and for temperatures within a few tens of degrees of 0 degrees celsius it increases at the rate 0.590 m/s for every degree celsius increase in temperature. How long would it take a sound wave to travel 150 m over a path where the temperature rises linearly from 5 degrees to 15 degrees at the other end?

Homework Equations

d= 150 mv=331+0.59T##T=(\frac{1}{15})x+5\\dT=\frac{1}{15}dx##

The Attempt at a Solution



##dt=\frac { dx }{ v }\\T_{ total }=\int _{ 0 }^{ 150 }{ \frac { dx }{ v } }\\=\int _{ 0 }^{ 150 }{ \frac { 15dT }{ 331+0.59T } }\\=\frac { 15 }{ 0.59 } ln(331+0.59T){ | }_{ 0 }^{ 15 }=0.67##Back of the book says .445 s
 
Physics news on Phys.org
rpthomps said:

Homework Statement

The sound speed in air at 0 degrees Celsius is 331 m/s, and for temperatures within a few tens of degrees of 0 degrees celsius it increases at the rate 0.590 m/s for every degree celsius increase in temperature. How long would it take a sound wave to travel 150 m over a path where the temperature rises linearly from 5 degrees to 15 degrees at the other end?

Homework Equations

d= 150 mv=331+0.59T##T=(\frac{1}{15})x+5\\dT=\frac{1}{15}dx##

The Attempt at a Solution



##dt=\frac { dx }{ v }\\T_{ total }=\int _{ 0 }^{ 150 }{ \frac { dx }{ v } }\\=\int _{ 0 }^{ 150 }{ \frac { 15dT }{ 331+0.59T } }\\=\frac { 15 }{ 0.59 } ln(331+0.59T){ | }_{ 0 }^{ 15 }=0.67##Back of the book says .445 s
Is the initial temperature 0° ?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: rpthomps
Yup, that's it. the lower boundary should be 5 degrees. When I recalculate, I get the correct answer. Thank you sir!
 
how thrilling is it that using a simple formula v = d/t, you can calculate how far a thunderstorm is from you! So exciting! I love Physics!
 

Similar threads

Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
17K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K