Speed of Sound: What is the Equation?

T is temperature in kelvins, and R is the gas constantIn summary, the equation for the speed of sound can be expressed as \sqrt{\gamma T R}, where \gamma is the ratio of specific heats, T is temperature in kelvins, and R is the gas constant. However, the equation can vary depending on what quantities are being related to the speed of sound, such as the spacing between particles or the properties of a material.
  • #1
isabella
27
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does anyone know the equation of speed of sound?
 
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  • #3
isabella said:
does anyone know the equation of speed of sound?
Do you realize that this question is so poorly worded that any correct response you receive must be a result of some fortunate psychological evaluation of what you mean by the question ?

An equation, as you must be aware, relates a bunch of quantities. There may be several equations involving anyone chosen quantity. So, if you want to know about the speed of sound, what do you want to relate it to - the spacing between piles of dust in a particular experiment, the wavelength and frequency of a wave, the tension in a guitar string, the pressure of a gas, some material property rather than a wave property or viceversa ?
 
  • #4
[tex]\sqrt{\gamma T R} [/tex]
 
Last edited:

1. What is the equation for calculating the speed of sound?

The equation for calculating the speed of sound is: v = λf, where v is the speed of sound, λ is the wavelength of the sound wave, and f is the frequency of the sound wave.

2. How is the speed of sound affected by temperature?

The speed of sound is directly proportional to the temperature of the medium it is traveling through. As the temperature increases, the speed of sound also increases. This is because the molecules in the medium are moving faster, allowing sound waves to travel more quickly through them.

3. What is the speed of sound in air?

The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 meters per second at room temperature and sea level. However, this value can vary depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, and altitude.

4. What is the difference between the speed of sound in air and water?

The speed of sound in water is approximately 1482 meters per second, which is faster than in air. This is because water is more dense than air, allowing sound waves to travel more quickly through it.

5. Does the speed of sound change with frequency?

Yes, the speed of sound does change with frequency. As the frequency of a sound wave increases, the speed of sound also increases. This is because higher frequency sound waves have shorter wavelengths, allowing them to travel more quickly through a medium.

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