Physics – 3.4 Sound | e-Consult
3.4 Sound (1 questions)
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Calculation:
- The total distance the sound travels is 15m x 2 = 30m.
- The time taken for the sound to travel this distance is 0.12 seconds.
- The speed of sound (v) is calculated as: v = distance / time.
- Therefore, v = 30m / 0.12s = 250 m/s.
Comparison: The calculated speed of sound (250 m/s) is lower than the accepted value (343 m/s) at 20°C. This discrepancy suggests there is an error in the experiment.
Possible Source of Error: One possible source of error is the difficulty in accurately measuring the time delay. Human reaction time can introduce a significant error. The student may not be able to precisely determine when the sound is heard after the clap, leading to an inaccurate time measurement. Also, the sound may not travel perfectly in a straight line, introducing additional distance.