Question

What is the elapsed time between when the bullet strikes a target 500 m away, and when the sound of the gunshot reaches the target? assume air temperature is 20 ∘c .

Answer 1

The elapsed time between when a bullet strikes a target 500 m away, and when the sound of the gunshot reaches the target is approximately 1.46 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The elapsed time between when a bullet strikes a target 500 m away, and when the sound of the gunshot reaches the target can be calculated using the speed of sound. In air at 20 °C, the speed of sound is approximately 343 m/s. To calculate the elapsed time, we need to find the time it takes for sound to travel 500 m. The formula for time is distance divided by speed, so the elapsed time would be:

Elapsed time = distance / speed = 500 m / 343 m/s = 1.46 s

Therefore, the elapsed time between when the bullet strikes a target 500 m away and when the sound of the gunshot reaches the target is approximately 1.46 seconds.

Answer 2

The elapsed time for the sound of a gunshot to reach a target 500 m away, with an air temperature of 20 °C, is approximately 1.46 seconds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the elapsed time between a bullet striking a target and the sound of the gunshot reaching the same target, assuming the target is 500 m away and the air temperature is 20 °C. In this scenario, we must consider the speed of sound at the given temperature which affects the time it takes for sound to travel that distance. While the bullet's speed is not given in the student's question, it is not necessary as the bullet's travel time to the target is negligible compared to the speed of sound. The speed of sound at 20 °C is approximately 343 m/s. To find the elapsed time, divide the distance by the speed of sound:

Time = Distance / Speed of Sound

Time = 500 m / 343 m/s ≈ 1.46 s

Therefore, the sound will take roughly 1.46 seconds to reach the target after the bullet has hit it.