Question

How can the speed of a sound be determined by method of echo? In physics?

Answer 1

Clap-echo method

This method involves measuring the time taken for you to hear an echo from a sharp clap. You stand a long distance from a wall, clap, and listen for the echo. The distance travelled is twice the distance from you to the wall (because the sound has to travel to the wall and back).

One way to reduce timing errors in this method is to clap in time to the echoes. This means that the time between each clap is the journey time for the sound. You then measure the time for 11 claps, which is the time for 10 journeys by the sound. This time can then be used to calculate an average time for the sound to travel to the wall and back.