You place your car onto a steel railroad track and hear the sound of a distant t

Question

You place your car onto a steel railroad track and hear the sound of a distant train through the rails Delta t = 2.6 seconds faster than you do through the air. The speed of sound in steel is v_s = 6100 m/s while in air the speed of sound is v_a = 343m/s. Part (a) Write an equation for the time it takes the sound to reach you through the air if the distance to the train is represented by D. Part (b) Write an equation for the time it takes the sound to reach you through the steel if the distance to the train is represented by Part (c) Use the difference in these two times to write an equation for the distance to the train. 1 Part (d) For the given information find the distance to the train in meters.

Explanation / Answer

(A) time = distance / speed
  
t = D / va

(B) t = D / vs

(C) deltat = D/va - D/vs

D (vs - va) / va vs = delta t

D = deltat va vs / ( vs - va)

(D) D = (2.6) (343) (6100) / (6100 - 343)

= 945 m

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse Y
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.