In a thunderstorm, the formula: \( M=\frac{t}{4.8} \) gives the approximate distance, \( M \), in miles, from a lightning strike if it takes \( t \) seconds to hear the thunder after seeing the lightning. If you are 5.7 miles away from the lightning flash, how long will it take the sound of the thunder to reach you. Answer: It will take Check Answer seconds for the sound to reach you.

To solve for the time, \( t \), you can rearrange the formula to find \( t \): \( t = M \times 4.8 \). So if you're 5.7 miles away, substituting \( M \) gives: \( t = 5.7 \times 4.8 = 27.36 \). Thus, it will take approximately 27.36 seconds for the sound of the thunder to reach you. A tip for thunderstorm safety: Count the seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder—this is not just to estimate distance but also a key indicator to determine your safety. For every five seconds, there's roughly a mile of distance! Stay safe and remember, if you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck! Next time you see a lightning flash, you can not only count the seconds but also impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of sound’s speed! Did you know that sound travels about one mile every five seconds? That means your count can also be a fun game with your buddies—if you beat the time to three seconds, you better find cover! Stay curious and keep watching the skies!