An enormous thunderstorm covers Dallas-Ft. Worth. Your best friend Clark is a st

Question

An enormous thunderstorm covers Dallas-Ft. Worth. Your best friend Clark is a storm chaser and heads to the center of the storm to take some readings while you stay dry at home. While Clark is at the center of the storm, he sees and hears lightning strike a tree that is 152 m from where he is standing. You are 141 km from the tree. How long does it take for the sound to reach Clark? Assume the speed of sound is 343 m/s.

s?

How long does it take for the light to reach you?

s?

Will your storm-chaser friend Clark hear the lightning or will you see the lightning first?

Explanation / Answer

speed = distance/time

distance = 152 m

speed = 343 m/s

time = distance/speed

time = 152/343 =  0.44314 sec

time taken by sound = 0.44314 sec

distance = 141 km = 141000 m

speed of light = 299792458 m/s

time taken by light = 141000/299792458 = 0.000470 sec

you will see the lightning first

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