Chapter 17, Problem 11PE

Suppose a bat uses sound echoes to locate its insect prey, 3.00 m away. (See Figure 17.10.) (a) Calculate the echo times for temperatures of 5.00°C and 35.0°C. (b) What percent uncertainty does this cause for the bat in locating the insect? (c) Discuss the significance of this uncertainty and whether it could cause difficulties for the bat. (In practice, the hat continues to use sound as it closes in, eliminating most of any dif?culties imposed by this and other effects, such as motion of the prey.)

Figure 17.10 A bat uses sound echoes to find its way about and to catch prey. The time for the echo to return is directly proportional to the distance.