Solve EM Waves Problem: Time Difference of Important News Transmission

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the time difference in receiving a news announcement transmitted via radio waves and sound waves. The radio waves travel 81 km at the speed of light (3 x 10^8 m/s), while sound waves travel 2.3 m at 343 m/s. The initial attempt incorrectly focused on frequency rather than directly calculating time using the formula time = distance/speed. Participants clarify that using this formula for both mediums will yield the correct time difference. The key takeaway is to apply the appropriate distance and speed values to determine the time difference accurately.
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Homework Statement


An important news announcement is transmitted by radio waves to people who are 81 km away, sitting next to their radios, and by sound waves to people sitting across the newsroom, 2.3 m from the newscaster. Take the speed of sound in air to be 343 m/s. What is the difference in time that the message is recieved?


Homework Equations


c = f*lamda


The Attempt at a Solution


c1 = 3*10^8 m/s
lamda1 = 81km
c2 = 343 m/s
lamda2 = 2.3m

f1 = c1/lamda1
f2 = c2/lamda2

T = 1/(f1-f2) = time difference

What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance for any help!
 
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I think this is more of a distance problem than a waves problem.

So, the speed of radio waves is the speed of light, 3*10^8 m/s...so use time=distance/speed
Do the same thing for sound, where it travels at 343 m/s.
 
awesome...thanks!
 

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