2019A F=ma Exam: Problem 16

Kevin S. Huang

We can divide t into two intervals, the time t1 it takes the stone to hit the bottom and the time t2
it takes for the sound to travel back up. We have

t = t1 + t2
1
d = gt21
2
d = vt2
where v is the speed of sound. If we neglect the speed of sound then
1
d0 = gt2
2
We require

d0 t2
= 2 <1+∆
d t1
so
t t1 + t2 t2 √
= =1+ < 1+∆
t1 t1 t1
√
r
t2 d g
= < 1+∆−1
t1 v 2d

1
 gd √
< ( 1 + ∆ − 1)2
2v 2
Thus,

2v 2 √ 2(330 m/s)2 √
d< ( 1 + ∆ − 1)2 = 2 ( 1 + 0.05 − 1)2 = 13.3 m
g 10 m/s