A column of soldiers, marching at 132 steps per minute, keep in step with the beat of a drummer at the head of the column. It is observed that the soldiers in the rear end of the column are striding forward with the left foot when the drummer is advancing with the right. What is the approximate length of the column? (Take the speed of sound to be 343 m/s.)

Question

Trevin Phelps

Physics

18 November, 04:00

A column of soldiers, marching at 132 steps per minute, keep in step with the beat of a drummer at the head of the column. It is observed that the soldiers in the rear end of the column are striding forward with the left foot when the drummer is advancing with the right. What is the approximate length of the column? (Take the speed of sound to be 343 m/s.)

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Cale Mercado · Answer 1

132 steps / min ≈ 2 steps / s

They are one step out of sync

1 step ⇒ ≈0.5 s

sound reaches rear with 0.5s delay

sound travels in 0.5 seconds = 343 m/s * 0.5s = 171.5m