Speed of a helicopter determined by sonar

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    Helicopter Speed
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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a helicopter flying toward a cliff and using sonar to determine its speed based on the time taken for a signal to reflect back. The context includes understanding the relationship between distance, speed, and time in a scenario involving sound waves traveling at a specified speed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the distance the sonar signal travels and the implications of the helicopter's movement during that time. There are questions about the calculations related to the distance traveled by the signal and the helicopter's position.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the relationship between the distance the sonar signal travels and the distance the helicopter moves. Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculations, but there is no explicit consensus on the next steps or the correct interpretation of the distances involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on the time taken for the sonar signal to return and the speed of sound, with participants questioning the assumptions made about the helicopter's motion and the distances involved in the problem setup.

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Homework Statement



A helicopter flies directly toward a vertical cliff. when the helicopter is 700 m from the cliff face it transmits a sonar signal. it recives the reflected signal 3.4 s later. if the signal travels at a wind speed 350m/s, what is the speed of the helicopter.

The Attempt at a Solution



250*3.4= 1190 m
please help me what i need to do next? i spend 1 hour on it i did n't get answer.
 
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How far did the signal travel in 3.4s?
If the helicopter was stationary it would have to have traveled 2*700=1400m
How much less did it travel?
The helicopter must have traveled that far in 3.4s
 
mgb_phys said:
How far did the signal travel in 3.4s?
If the helicopter was stationary it would have to have traveled 2*700=1400m
How much less did it travel?
The helicopter must have traveled that far in 3.4s

what u mean by 2*700?
 
The distance the sound would have to travel 700m to the cliff and 700m back to the helicopter = 1400m if the helicopter was stationary.
In fact it only goes 3.4*350 = 1190m so the helicopter must have moved how much closer?
 

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