Equivalent formula for a Sound wave in a medium like an EM wave

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding an equivalent formula for sound waves in a medium, analogous to the wavelength relationship in electromagnetics. Participants explore the dependence of sound speed on different media and seek a reference value for sound speed similar to the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the wavelength in a medium for electromagnetic waves is given by $$\lambda = \frac{\lambda_{0}}{n}$$ and questions if a similar formula exists for sound waves.
  • Another participant explains that the speed of sound varies with the medium (gas, liquid, solid) and provides a formula for solids: $$c=\sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho}}$$, where K is the coefficient of stiffness and $$\rho$$ is the mass density.
  • A participant seeks to understand if there is a relationship for acoustic waves that allows for calculating an equivalent length in an acoustic medium by dividing the vacuum wavelength by a constant similar to the refractive index.
  • One participant describes the relationship between wavelengths in different media, stating that the frequency remains constant across boundaries, leading to the relation $$\nu=\frac{c_1}{\lambda_1}=\frac{c_2}{\lambda_2}$$.
  • A later reply reiterates the lack of a standard reference material for sound wave speed and suggests that sound speed data for common materials can be found on various webpages.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the speed of sound is dependent on the medium, but there is no consensus on the existence of a standard reference value for sound speed analogous to electromagnetic waves in vacuum. Multiple competing views regarding the formulation and reference values remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the absence of a universally accepted reference material for sound speed and the dependence of sound speed on specific medium properties, which may vary widely.

chowdhury
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TL;DR
Is there a equivalent reference of acoustic speed like sound wave, and in this case, wavelength in a acoustic medium just like electromagnetic medium
1.) In electromagnetics, wavelength in a medium is
$$\lambda = \frac{\lambda_{0}}{n}$$, where $$n$$ is the refractive index.
What is the equivalent formula for sound wave in a medium?

2.) Is there a reference sound velocity, like electromagetic wave speed in vacuum is
$$c_{0} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\epsilon_{0}\mu_{0}}}$$
 
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Formula of speed of sound depends on medium; gas, liquid and solid. For an example for solid
c=\sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho}}
where K is coefficient of stiffness and ##\rho## is mass density. I don't think people set standard material for sound speed but you can calculate change of sound speed between the two media to know the change of wave length.

ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
 
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anuttarasammyak said:
Formula of speed of sound depends on medium; gas, liquid and solid. For an example for solid
c=\sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho}}
where K is coefficient of stiffness and ##\rho## is mass density.

ref. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound

I understand this, what I wanted to know is for example, in optics, wavelength in a medium of refractive index is $$\lambda_{\mathrm{medium}} = \frac{\lambda}{n}$$. Hence I want to traverse equivalent length in that medium, I just need to divide the vacuum wavelength by $$n$$. Is there such a relationship for acoustic waves, meaning, by what equivalent constant of refractive index I have to divide by to have the same length in an acoustic medium?
 
Say sound in medium 1 of speed ##c_1## goes beyond the boundary into medium 2 where sound speed is ##c_2##. The frequency is shared so we can get the relation between ##\lambda## s,
\nu=\frac{c_1}{\lambda_1}=\frac{c_2}{\lambda_2}
 
anuttarasammyak said:
Say sound in medium 1 of speed ##c_1## goes beyond the boundary into medium 2 where sound speed is ##c_2##. The frequency is shared so we can get the relation between ##\lambda## s,
\nu=\frac{c_1}{\lambda_1}=\frac{c_2}{\lambda_2}

Thanks. this is what I also found, but is there a reference value of sound, in analogy of electromagnetic wave in vacuum? I do not find it.
 
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I repeat I don't think there is a standard material for sound wave speed (#2). In the wikipedia webpage I referred you will see some formula and external links. I hope this will lead you to get proper estimates or values for your special settings. If your materials are popular ones sound speed data are frequently included in webpages for the materials.
 
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