Bats rely on sound localization to be able to fly during the night. On a cool 20°C summer night, a bat produces an ultrasonic sound with a frequency of 39 kHz. What is the wavelength of this ultrasound, in meters?

1 Answer
kevincmiles1921
Apr 5, 2018

#approx .01m#

Explanation:

An ultrasonic sound with a frequency of #39 kHz# completes #39,000# cycles per second (Hertz). Also, a Google search reveals that sound travels #343# meters per second in dry air at #20° C#. That means #39,000# wavelengths occur in #343# meters. So one of those wavelengths would be a little under #1cm#:

#frac{343m}{39,000Hz} approx 0.0087948718m approx .01m#

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