Velocity of longitudinal waves in a solid.

[RazerM]

Homework Statement

Our lecturer gave us a general equation for velocity of waves; (where c= wave velocity)
c= \sqrt{\frac{\textrm{springiness}}{\textrm{massiness}}}
(Excuse the terms, I'd personally rather have been given the equations here..)

So for transverse waves on a string/wire (where T= Tension and \mu= mass per unit length)
c= \sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}
and for longitudinal waves in a gas (whereB_{ad}= the adiabatic bulk modulus and \rho= density)
c= \sqrt{\frac{B_{ad}}{\rho}}


Where I am stuck is longitudinal waves in a solid, I'm assuming massiness = \rho but am unsure about springiness.

Homework Equations

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The Attempt at a Solution

So for longitudinal waves in a solid; solving for the dimensions of springiness appears to show that springiness is in Newtons but how does Force correlate to a wave through a solid, or am I missing the point completely?

 

[diazona]

hmm, I think you made a mistake in that unit calculation. I get Pascals (N/m^2), a unit of pressure... but I'm not sure what physical quantity that corresponds to, since solids don't really have pressure in the same sense as gasses. This is a particular area of physics in which my knowledge is sadly lacking.

Isn't there a bulk modulus for solids?