I was in my apartment for the 4th of July fireworks this year, but fortunately a local television station simulcasts the fireworks on T.V., so I can watch them from home.  It was a very elaborate show, and they actually have music to which the fireworks are synchronized.  I was very excited when I noticed that when the opened with “Heavy Action” (a.k.a. the MNF theme song) and the music from the T.V. was actually synchronized with the faint reports I was hearing from the actual fireworks!

How is this possible?  Well, ever since Superbowl XXXVIII live broadcasts almost have to have a delay.  So what sort of delay does the feed have to produce this happy coincidence?

As it turns out, according to Google Maps and its “Distance Measurement Tool”, I live about 2 miles from the fireworks ground zero.  The speed of sound in air is strictly a function of temperature (for an ideal gas); it was 66 F ( 19 C) according to my external thermometer.  Per Wikipedia:

So if 2 miles = 3.2 km = 3200 meters, then at 342 m/s, it would take the sound of each firework over 9 seconds to reach me.  This seems like a slightly excessive, but welcome television delay.  Thanks overbearing FCC!  Without you, I would have to actually monitor what my future kids watched on T.V., and I wouldn’t get treated to synchronized fireworks television/noise!