Speed of Sound
Sound travels at different speeds in different materials. In fact, sound can travel at different speeds in the same material if conditions differ in that material.
In general, the speed of sound in air can be found by the following equation:
Speed of sound in air = 331 (meters/second) + .6 (temperature in degrees Celsius)
So the speed of sound on a 23 degree C day (73degree F) would be 331 + (.6)(23) or about 345 m/s
For the speed of sound in other materials you can view the chart below.
| Speed of Sound in Various Materials |
| solids |
v (m/s) |
|
liquids |
v (m/s) |
| aluminum |
6420 |
|
alcohol, ethyl |
1207 |
| beryllium |
12,890 |
|
alcohol, methyl |
1103 |
| brass |
4700 |
|
mercury |
1450 |
| brick |
3650 |
|
water, distilled |
1497 |
| copper |
4760 |
|
water, sea |
1531 |
| cork |
500 |
|
|
|
| glass, crown |
5100 |
|
|
|
| glass, flint |
3980 |
|
gases (STP) |
v (m/s) |
| glass, pyrex |
5640 |
|
air, 000 °C |
331 |
| gold |
3240 |
|
air, 020 °C |
343 |
| granite |
5950 |
|
argon |
319 |
| iron |
5950 |
|
carbon dioxide |
259 |
| lead |
2160 |
|
helium |
965 |
| lucite |
2680 |
|
hydrogen (H2) |
1284 |
| marble |
3810 |
|
neon |
435 |
| rubber, butyl |
1830 |
|
nitrogen |
334 |
| rubber, vulcanized |
54 |
|
nitrous oxide |
263 |
| silver |
3650 |
|
oxygen (O2) |
316 |
| steel, mild |
5960 |
|
water vapor, 134 °C |
494 |
| steel, stainless |
5790 |
|
|
|
| titanium |
6070 |
|
|
|
| wood, ash |
4670 |
|
|
|
| wood, elm |
4120 |
|
|
|
| wood, maple |
4110 |
|
|
|
| wood, oak |
3850 |
|
|
|
| Sources: Unknown, but probably an old version of the CRC |
From The Physics Hypertextbook
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