Two speakers, A and B, produce identical sound waves. A listener is
3.20 m from speaker A. The listener
finds the lowest frequency that
creates constructive interference at
his location is 72.4 Hz. How far
away is he from speaker B?
(Hint: v= \f = 343 m/s)
(Unit = m)

any of these will work

Explanation:

Destructive interference will occur when the distances from the speakers differ by 1/2 wavelength.

The length of 1 cycle of 72.4 Hz is ...

 λ = v/f = (343 m/s)/(72.4 Hz) ≈ 4.738 m

So, the distance of the listener from speaker B is ...

 3.2 m ± (4.738 m)/2 = {0.83 m, 5.57 m} . . . either of these distances

The location could be at additional multiples of 4.738 m, but we think not. The sound intensity drops off with the square of the distance from the speaker, so identical sound waves from the speakers will sound quite different at different distances from the speakers. For best interference, the distances need to be as close to the same as possible. That will be at 3.2 m and 5.57 m.

Comment on the speed of sound

We don't know what speed you are to use for the speed of sound. We have used 343 m/s. Some sources use 340 m/s, which will give a result different by 2 or 3 cm.

a sonic boom is a loud boom that breaks the sound barrier

explanation: