Question

A submarine emits a SONAR pulse which returns from an underwater cliff in 1.05 second. If the speed
of sound in salt water is 1531 m s
−1, how far away is the cliff?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Time taken by the sonar pulse to return, t = 1.02 s

Speed of sound in salt water, v = 1531 ms-1

Distance of the cliff from the submarine = Speed of sound * Time taken

Distance of the cliff from the submarine = 1.02 x 1531 = 1561.32 m

Distance travelled by the sonar pulse during its transmission and reception in water = 2 x Actual distance = 2d

Actual Distance, d= (Distance of the cliff from the submarine)/2

= 1561/2

= 780.31 m