The speed of sound through the ground is about 6.0 km/s while the speed of sound in air is 343 m/s. A very powerful explosion occurs some distance away and you feel the ground vibrate 60
Seconds before you hear the sound of the explosion. How far away is the explosion?
A) 22 km
B) 27 km
C) 30 km
D) 25 km
E) 20 km

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The speed of sound through the ground is 6.0 km/s, so the distance traveled by the sound wave in 60 seconds is 6.0 km/s * 60 s = 360 km. The speed of sound in air is 343 m/s, so the distance traveled by the sound wave in air in 60 seconds is 343 m/s * 60 s = 20.58 km. The difference between these two distances is the distance between the explosion and the observer, which is 360 km - 20.58 km = 22 km.

The Speed of Sound Through the Ground Is About 6