Please help me solve these simultaneous equations using the substitution method.?

Question

1. Construct a physical explanation for why the sound of thunder from a lightning strike appears after the actual bolt is seen.
2. Execute a strategy that would allow you to determine the distance to a lightning strike, given a five-second time difference between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.

This is my first time trying to solve these types of problems. Any explanations will help me . Thank you.

Answer 1

Simultaneous Equations Hmmm?

Okay, so we have to very complicated equations
1.s=vt1
v- is speed of sound in the air
t1=time takes the sound to travel distance s

2.s=ct2
c- is speed of light the air,
t2=time takes the light to travel distance s

So we have two equations and three unknowns (t1, t2, s). Darn I thought I was good. Well live and learn.

All right let’s not despair and get a bit practical. The speed of light in the air is about 300,000,000m/s and the speed of sound in the air is 340m/s. In reality the speed of light will be a bit slower in the air then in vacuum and the speed of sound needs to be adjusted for humidity, temperature and atmospheric pressure.

So the roughly the speed of sound is about 1,000,000 times slower than the speed of light. That allows us assume that lightening happened exactly at the same time as we see it. So when you see lightening start measuring t1.

Then distance s=340 t1 (in meters)


That provides plenty of explanation, however if not then let me know.

Have fun.

Answer 2

well, for 1) The reason why we see lightning bolt before the thunder is because light travels much faster than the thunder, the speeds are given below
let me try answering the second one: The speed at which the light travels is at 3 * 10^8 m/s and speed of sound : 240 m/s
So: d = (t + 5) 240
d = 240 * t
solve for d ,that should give u d = 1200m

Answer 3

I really would have helped u f i wz sure of my answer..sorry

Answer 4

DO THEM YOURSELF YOU CHEATER!!