17.2 Exercise 17

Suppose a bat uses sound echoes to locate its insect prey, 3.00 m away. (See the figure.) (a) Calculate the echo times for temperatures of $\text{5}.\text{00}º\text{C}$ and $\text{35}.\text{0}º\text{C}$. (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 bat continues to use sound as it closes in, eliminating most of any difficulties imposed by this and other effects, such as motion of the prey.)