Free Sound Distance Calculator

Calculate the distance to a sound source from the time delay, using d = v * t.

s
°C

Distance

1,030.3 m

Speed of Sound343.4 m/s
Distance (km)1.030 km

Distance vs Time Delay

Sound Distance

By measuring the time between seeing an event and hearing it, you can estimate the distance.

Formula

d = v_sound * t

where v_sound = 331.3 + 0.606 * T (m/s). A classic application: counting seconds between a lightning flash and thunder to estimate storm distance.

Example Calculation

Thunder arrives 3 seconds after lightning at 20 degrees C.

  1. 01v = 331.3 + 0.606 * 20 = 343.4 m/s
  2. 02d = 343.4 * 3
  3. 03d = 1030.3 m
  4. 04d = 1.030 km (about 1 km)

Frequently Asked Questions

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