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Physics

Distance from sound travel time

Calculate distance from the delay between lightning and thunder, or from the travel time of an echo.

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01

Your inputs

The starting values are an example.

343 m/s is an example value for air at approximately 20 °C.

Decimals: 12.5 · Thousands: 1,234.56. Follow the field instructions for lists.

02

Your result

Enter your values and select Calculate.

Your calculation will appear here.

Your result will include the relevant values and units.

Understand the calculation

Formula and example

How it is calculated

One-way travel: d = c × t; echo: d = c × t ÷ 2

Worked example

A 3-second delay at 343 m/s corresponds to 1,029 m for one-way travel or 514.5 m for an echo.

Things to check

  • Temperature and the medium determine the speed of sound. Choose a suitable value for a more accurate calculation.
  • The timing measurement and the chosen travel model affect accuracy more than extra decimal places.