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The speed of sound changes only with temperature. The altitude and the atmospheric pressure has no influence. Usually the temperature goes down with higher altitude. Notice: The speed of sound changes with temperature and

a little bit with humidity − but not with air pressure (atmospheric pressure).

The words "sound pressure at sea level" are incorrect and misleading.

The temperature indication, however, is absolutely necessary. The speed of sound in air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is 343 metres per second. That is 1126.547 feet per second.

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14y ago
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14y ago

The speed of sound changes only with temperature. The altitude and the atmospheric pressure has no influence. Usually the temperature goes down with higher altitude. Notice: The speed of sound changes with temperature and

a little bit with humidity − but not with air pressure (atmospheric pressure).

The words "sound pressure at sea level" are incorrect and misleading.

The temperature indication, however, is absolutely necessary. The speed of sound in air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) is 343 metres per second. That is 1126.547 feet per second.

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13y ago

Mach"s constant- 760 MPH at ground- sea level. this decreases with altitude- the Famous French Fighter, the Mirage III flew demonstration runs with a ( valve cutoff) of Mach 2- at precisely l.350 MPH- at the controls, Jacqueline Auriol. at sea level this same Mach number would require a speed of over l500 MPH- figure it out. It is kind of problematical as for both tactical ( noise might attract enemy sound location- which antedates radar.- and environmental reasons- Mach Busting is ALWAYS done at high altitudes- such as 40,000 feet and above- in combat zones- and higher ( the Concorde cruised at 60,000 feet) for limited ( now technically suspended) commercial ops. Mach"s constant stands at 760- at sea level.

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14y ago

sound travels by one molecule of air knocking into the next one which then knocks into the next one each molecule simply passing the message on . at high altitudes the molecules of air are simply further apart (which is why it's hard to breathe up there) so it takes longer to pass the message from one molecule to the next.

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12y ago

The speed of sound in air has really nothing to do with the sea level and its atmospheric pressure. Speed of sound is dependent on the temperature. Normaly the temperature is higher at the ground and therefore the speed of sound is faster there than high on a mountain top. Forget the atmospheric pressure, think of the temperature.

Look at the link: "Speed of Sound in Air and the effective Temperature".

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11y ago

It is easier to break the speed of sound at higher altitudes because of lower temperatures. With an increase in altitude temperature decreases at a standard lapse rate of 2 degrees C per 1000 feet. With warmer air, air particles have more kinetic energy (more excited), the more excited the particles, the easier it is for adjacent molecules can propagate a sound wave. On a standard day speed travels through air at 661.7 knots. At 25,000 ft on a standard day speed travels at roughly 600 knots.

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15y ago

The air is less dense at higher altitudes. The denser the air, the faster sound travels.

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10y ago

As altitude increases the density of air decreases. As speed of sound is directly proportional to density, speed of sound decreases as altitude increases.

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Q: Why is it easier to break the sound barrier at higher altitudes?
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