Sonar is used to map the ocean floor. if an ultrasonic signal is received 3.3 s after it is emitted, how deep is the ocean floor at that location?

Question

Physics

Ariel Huerta

18 December, 04:29

Sonar is used to map the ocean floor. if an ultrasonic signal is received 3.3 s after it is emitted, how deep is the ocean floor at that location?

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Answers (1)

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Philip Ramsey · Answer 1

The speed of sound in fresh water is 1482m/s.

It says ocean floor, so we should a little bit more accurate, and use the fact that the speed of sound in salt water (that has no bubbles) is 1560m/s.

speed = distance / time

Therefore Distance = speed x time = 1560 x 3.3 = 5158m

The sonar wave is sent out by the boat, reflected off the seafloor, and then is received back at the boat on the surface. So the distance 5148m is the distance from the boat to the sea bottom and then back up to the boat again.

So the depth of the water is half this distance Depth of water = 5148/2=2574m