A rule of thumb for determining the distance to a lightning strike is to count t

Question

A rule of thumb for determining the distance to a lightning strike is to count the number of seconds between when you see the flash of lightning and when you hear the thunder. The distance is a mile for every 5 seconds. So if the time is 5 seconds, the distance is 1 mile, 2 miles for 10 seconds and so on. A mile is 1609 m. a) If the air temperature is 20 degrees Celcius, determine the time it takes sound to travel 1.0 mile. b) The light from the lightning flash travels at a speed of 3.00 x 108 m/s. How long does it take light to travel 1.0 mile? c) Use your answers to parts a) and b) to explain how the rule of thumb for determining the distance to a lightning strike works.

Explanation / Answer

1 mile = 1609 m

a)

at 20 c

speed of sound = V = 331.4 + (0.6) T = 331.4 + (0.6) (20) = 343.4 m/s

time taken = distance / speed = 1609 / 343.4 = 4.7 sec

b)

time taken = distance / speed = 1609 / (3 x 108) = 5.4 x 10-6 sec

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