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Speed of Sound
The rate of a sound wave, the speed of sound is calculated at 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second.
592 Questions
What are three factors or variables that affect the speed of sound?
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.
Does the speed of sound depend on the loudness?
The answer is: No! In an ideal gas, which air can be considered, the speed of sound is given by:- c= √(γ(p/Ï)) where γ is the abiabatic index, p is the pressure and Ï is the density. and p= ÏRT/M where R is the ideal gas constant, M is the Molar mass and T is the absolute temperature. From his equation, if temperature and mass are constant -, one can see that p is proportional to ÏTherefore if atmospheric pressure is doubled so is the density Hence p/ Ï is constant. Therefore atmospheric pressure does not affect the speed of sound. However, increase in temperature will lead to an increase in speed. At high altitudes, the temperature is significantly lower, and hence the speed of sound is lower.
What three properties of a medium affect the speed of sound?
Short Answer:
The speed of a sound wave depends on two properties of a medium, density and elasticity. Changes in temperature and pressure affect these properties and, of course, a change in the chemical or physical composition of a material affects these properties.
Long Answer:
Specifically, for basically all substances, the speed of sound equals the square root of the ratio of the elastic constant divided by the density.
Solids, for instance, generally become less elastic, i.e. the elastic constant gets larger, as temperature is lowered, so the speed of sound should increase.
In air and most gasses, the speed of sound depends on the temperature and not much else (i.e. not pressure) because the density and elasticity change in ways that compensate and leave the speed unchanged.
There are different kinds of sound waves. The usual simple longitudinal (compression) waves that we are familiar with as sound detected by our ear are what we usually mean by the word sound, but there are also transverse matter vibrations also called shear waves. Earthquakes provide an example of both types of these wave, but actually any solid material can have both shear and compression waves. The rules, ratio of elastic constant to density, are true for both types of waves.
The speed of a wave can depend on the frequency, but this is generally a small effect for sounds in the range of the human ear. (This is called dispersion.)
We understand this phenomenon by saying that the elastic constant depends on frequency or wavelength. Explaining the cause of that would be a whole different answer to a different question. (See related questions link.)
As an example of change due to chemical composition, it is well known that humid air propagates sound differently than dry air, but this is basically because it changes the density of air.
An example of a material change that is obvious is the freezing of water. At zero degrees centigrade, water can be either liquid or solid. The two forms propagate sound very differently.
Caveat: This is true for gasses, solids and liquids, but for peculiar things like plasmas it may be different.
How was the speed of sound in water calculated 100 years ago?
A hundred years ago twp people on lake Geneva in Switzerland measured the speed of sound in water. One made a signal and started ringing a bell under the water.The other one started a stopwatch and then held his head under the water until he heard the bell.
How long would it take to circle the earth At the speed of sound?
At or very near the surface it would take almost 34 hours.
The velocity is equal to the frequency times the wavelength.
Freq = 8Hz ("per second")
wavelength = 2 cm
2x8=16cm/s
Then multiply the velocity by the elapsed time...
16cm/s x 10sec.
(seconds cancel as units)
160cm
What is the speed of sound in stp?
The speed of sound in standard temperature and pressure (STP) conditions is approximately 343 meters per second (m/s) in dry air at 20 degrees Celsius.
Do high pitched sounds travel in a straight line?
High pitched sounds, like all other sounds, travel in all directions in waves from their source. The direction they travel in can be affected by obstacles, reflections, and other factors, but they do not travel in a perfectly straight line.
Does sound travel about 331 meters per sec through air at sea level?
Yes, sound typically travels at around 343 meters per second through air at sea level. This speed can vary depending on factors such as temperature and humidity.
How much faster is the B-2 stealth bomber than sound?
The B-2's maximum speed is 628 mph while the speed of sound is 768 mph, so ii is subsonic (the B-2 cannot fly faster than sound).
If the speed of sound depended on frequency how would distant music sound?
If the speed of sound depended on frequency, distant music would sound distorted. Higher frequency sounds would travel faster than lower frequency sounds, causing a shift in the relative timing of different frequencies and resulting in a jumbled and unintelligible sound.
Newton's work showed that speed of light and sound were constant true or false?
False. Newton's work did not involve the speed of light and sound. The concept of constant speed of light was later formulated by Einstein in his theory of relativity. The speed of sound can vary depending on the medium it travels through.
Since velocity of wave = frequency x wavelength (or v=fλ), and velocity is assumed to be the same for both since they're in the same medium,
f1λ1 = f2λ2
300λ1 = 9000λ2
λ1/λ2 = 9000/300 = 30
Thus, the wavelength of the 300Hz frequency sound wave is 30 times greater than the 9000Hz frequency sound wave.
Sound waves can be slowed down by passing through mediums with high density or elasticity, such as solids. In these mediums, the particles are closely packed together, leading to frequent collisions that impede the speed of sound propagation. Additionally, temperature can also affect the speed of sound waves, with lower temperatures typically resulting in slower speeds.
The speed of sound varies when?
The speed of sound varies when it travels through different mediums with different densities, temperatures, and pressures. In general, sound travels faster in solids and liquids compared to gases because the particles are closer together, allowing for more efficient propagation of sound waves. Additionally, the speed of sound increases with higher temperatures due to the faster average speed of the particles in the medium.
How is the speed of sound calculated?
Speed of sound is dependent only on the temperature.
Often the easy calculation will do:
Speed of sound c ≈ 331 + (0.6 × T) m/s.
T = temperature in degrees Celsius (°C).
A 20°C the speed of sound c ≈ 331 + (0.6 × 20) = 343 m/s
Are sound waves transvers or longitudnal?
Sound waves are longitudinal waves, which means that the particles in the medium vibrate parallel to the direction of the wave's propagation. This is in contrast to transverse waves, where the particles vibrate perpendicular to the direction of the wave's propagation.
How do plants help in reducing noise pollution?
Living or working in a noisy environment is not always the best idea. However, nature can offer a little help. Plans can help reduce noise pollution by using reflection among each other to deaden the sound before it reaches you. Trees and shrubs are some of the best options for reducing the noise in your area.
What is the speed of sound at sea level at 20 degrees celsius in inches per second?
The sea level has nothing to do with the speed of sound.
It's the temperature that matters.
At 20° Celsius the speed of sound c = 343 m/s.
At 20° Celsius the speed of sound is c = 13 503.937 inches/second.
As air becomes warmer how does the speed of sound in air change?
If the temperature goes down, the speed of sound goes also down.
Speed of sound in air is c ≈ 331 + 0.6 × T.
T = Temperature in °C.
Speed of sound in air at 20°C is c ≈ 331 + 0.6 × 20 = 343 m/s.
How are light waves and sound waves similar?
Light waves and sound waves are both forms of energy that travel in waves. They can both be reflected, refracted, and diffracted. However, light waves can travel through a vacuum, while sound waves require a medium, such as air, water, or a solid material, to propagate.
Velocity of ultrasonic wave using acoustic grating?
The ultrasonic waves generated with the help of a quartz crystal inside the liquid in a container sets up standing wave pattern consisting of nodes and anti-nodes. The nodes are transparent and anti-nodes are opaque to the incident light. In effect the nodes and anti-nodes are acts like grating(a setup of large number of slits of equal distance) similar to that of rulings in diffraction grating. It is called as acoustic grating or aqua grating. Hence, by using the condition for diffraction, we can find the wavelength of ultrasound and thereby the velocity of sound in the liquid medium.
How can an echo be used to find missing objects?
ultra sound echo bounces back from objects and the distance of the obstacle can be calculated from the speed of sound that travels at 340 mt /sec . Missing objects in water or any open place can be located by sending an ultra sound wave and receiving it on any radio receiver.
How can you find out speed of sound with help of a resonance tube?
With a fork of known frequency, the first resonating length is found. Then by lowering down the level of water in the resonance column tube the second resonating length is found. This secondlength will be approximately three times the first resonating length Now using the following formula one can calcualte the speed of sound.
Speed of sound = 2 x frequency x (Second length - first length)
