Suppose you hear a clap of thunder 16.2 seconds after seeing the associated lightning stroke. The speed of sound waves in air is 343-m/s and the speed of light in air is 3.00 x 10^8-m/s. How far are you from the lightning stroke in both meters and miles? Assume that the light reaches you instantaneously.

D = 3.45 mile

Explanation:

given,

time taken by the sound wave, t = 16.2 s

speed of sound, v = 343 m/s

speed of the light = 3 x 10⁸ m/s

distance where lightning stroke

we know,

distance = speed x time

D = 343 x 16.2

D = 5556.6 m

1 m = 0.000621371 mile

5556.6 m = 5556.6 x 0.0006214

D = 3.45 mile

the distance lightning strike is 3.45 mile away from the observer.