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

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the time it takes for a sound wave to travel 150 meters in air, considering the speed of sound varies with temperature. The problem specifies a temperature increase from 5 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius along the path of the sound wave.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formula for sound speed in relation to temperature and attempt to set up an integral to calculate travel time. Questions arise regarding the initial temperature used in calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on recalculating based on the correct temperature boundaries, while others express enthusiasm about the physics concepts involved. There is no explicit consensus on the final answer, but productive dialogue is ongoing.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of the problem as posed, including the linear temperature increase and the specific speed of sound formula. There is mention of a discrepancy between calculated results and a reference answer from a textbook.

rpthomps
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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
 
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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° ?
 
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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!
 

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