A bullet is fired horizontally at a target, and the sound of its impact is heard 1.3 seconds later. If the speed of the bullet is 3,000 ft/sec and the speed of sound is 1,100 ft/sec, how far away is the target?
A)1,438.0 ft
B)2,853.7 ft
C)1,046.3 ft
D)1,430.0 ft
E)1,161.3 ft

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time taken for the bullet to reach the target is the total time minus the time taken for the sound to travel back. Let d be the distance to the target. The time for the bullet to reach the target is d/3000, and the time for the sound to travel back is d/1100. The total time is 1.3 seconds, so d/3000 + d/1100 = 1.3. Solving this equation gives d ≈ 1,046.3 ft.

A Bullet Is Fired Horizontally at a Target, and the Sound