a student stands 180m from a flat wall and starts to clap hands to hear clap-echo-clap-echo at a steady rate of 1 clap per second. What result does the student get for the speed of sound ?

Question

jamesj · Answer

So in 1 sec, how far has sound travelled?

jamesj · Answer

We want to know how far the sound has travelled, because then we can figure out the speed.

Speed = (Distance)/(Time)

If we find the distance, we can then find the speed.

anonymous · Answer

do we double the 180 because its an echo ? because it doesn't give us how far it has travelled.

jamesj · Answer

right, it travels from the student to the wall, 180 m, the sound bounces off the wall and then travels back, another 180 m.

hence the sound travels 360 m.

Given that, what is the speed of sound as observed by the student?

anonymous · Answer

speed= 360/1 ...?

jamesj · Answer

Yes speed = 360 m/s

anonymous · Answer

ohkay thankyou ! sorry, we're reallllly confused /: but its all good now !