Speed of Sound in Different Mediums

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the speed of sound in various mediums and its relationship with moving objects. When a car traveling at 50 m/s fires a missile at 100 m/s, the total speed of the missile relative to the ground is 150 m/s. In an airplane flying at 250 m/s, sound travels at 340 m/s from the passenger's perspective, but an observer on the ground perceives the sound wave traveling at 590 m/s due to the combined speeds. Ultrasonic waves produced by a moving car travel at the speed of sound in air, which is 340 m/s, regardless of the car's speed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts such as relative velocity
  • Knowledge of sound wave propagation in different mediums
  • Familiarity with the speed of sound in air (approximately 340 m/s)
  • Concept of ultrasonic waves and their characteristics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of relative motion in physics
  • Explore the speed of sound in various mediums, including air and water
  • Learn about the characteristics and applications of ultrasonic waves
  • Investigate the Doppler effect and its impact on sound perception
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, audio engineers, and anyone interested in the dynamics of sound propagation in moving environments.

Stephanus
Messages
1,316
Reaction score
104
Dear PF Forum,
Sorry I ask this. I should have googled it or doing the experiment myself. :smile:
If a cars runs 50 m/s and at that time fires a missile, the speed of the missile is 100 m/s so the total speed of the missile is 150m/s, is this right?
And if we sit at the back seat of an airplane, flying 250m/s, around 560mph and call the flight attendant, our sound is traveling 340m/s from our seat, is this right?
But an observer below, if somehow can 'see' our sound wave, he/she'll see that our sound wave is traveling 590m/s, is this right?

What about this.
A cars runs 50m/s and suddenly produces an ultrasonic wave. What would we see or hear in the sidewalk?
Does the ultrasonic wave travels at 390m/s or 340m/s? Considering the sound wave travels in the same medium as the car, while passenger calling to flight attedant the sound travels in the airplane medium, while an observer observing the sound stays on the ground, different medium.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Stephanus said:
If a cars runs 50 m/s and at that time fires a missile, the speed of the missile is 100 m/s so the total speed of the missile is 150m/s, is this right?
And if we sit at the back seat of an airplane, flying 250m/s, around 560mph and call the flight attendant, our sound is traveling 340m/s from our seat, is this right?
But an observer below, if somehow can 'see' our sound wave, he/she'll see that our sound wave is traveling 590m/s, is this right?

That's right, because the air in the cabin is moving relative to the ground.

Stephanus said:
What about this.
A cars runs 50m/s and suddenly produces an ultrasonic wave. What would we see or hear in the sidewalk?
Does the ultrasonic wave travels at 390m/s or 340m/s? Considering the sound wave travels in the same medium as the car, while passenger calling to flight attedant the sound travels in the airplane medium, while an observer observing the sound stays on the ground, different medium.

It travels at the speed of sound through the air, regardless of the speed of the car.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Stephanus
Drakkith said:
It travels at the speed of sound through the air, regardless of the speed of the car.
Ahh, just like light!
Except unlike the passenger and the ground observer, the speed of sound differs.
Thanks
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 236 ·
8
Replies
236
Views
15K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 74 ·
3
Replies
74
Views
5K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K