ISSUES IN SOLUTION

It might be useful to review some of the concepts required in isolation before combining them in the same problem. Here are some problems to illustrate each of the two main concepts.


First, the motion of sound is the easier of the two. It is the well-known Distance = Rate * Time model. Sound travels through air at approximately 340 meters per second. This figure varies with the temperature. If your students would benefit from a review of this idea, here are two problems that you could use.

First, Tommy was a timer at a track meet. He noticed he could see the smoke from the starter's gun before he heard the sound. He knew this happened because light travels much faster than sound.

Second, you may want to do some free falling body problems. They are readily available in math and physics books. Remind students to check which system they are working in. Using the wrong value for the acceleration of gravity is a common error and will wreck the solution.

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