Question 753Navigation General

70% to pass

While navigating in fog off a coastline of steep cliffs, you hear the echo of the ship's fog horn 4 seconds after the signal was sounded. What is the distance to the shore?

A 209 yards
B 363 yards
C 480 yards
D 730 yards
AI Explanation

The correct answer is D) 730 yards. The reasoning is as follows: The time it takes for the sound of the ship's fog horn to travel to the shore and reflect back is 4 seconds. Sound travels at approximately 1,100 feet per second in air. Therefore, the total distance the sound travels is 1,100 feet x 4 seconds = 4,400 feet. Since the sound travels to the shore and back, the distance to the shore is half of the total distance, which is 4,400 feet / 2 = 2,200 feet, or 730 yards. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately calculate the distance based on the given time delay of the echo.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG National Maritime Center
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