when does sound travel faster: at an air temperature of 0 degrees C or 32 degrees C?
2006-10-21 07:15:47 · 5 answers · asked by Kid Icarus 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The speed of sound depends upon the properties of the medium it is passing through. When we look at the properties of a gas, we see that only when molecules collide with each other can the condensations and rarefactions of a sound wave move about. So, it makes sense that the speed of sound has the same order of magnitude as the average molecular speed between collisions. In a gas, it is particularly important to know the temperature. This is because at lower temperatures, molecules collide more often, giving the sound wave more chances to move around rapidly. At freezing (0º Celcius), sound travels through air at 331 meters per second (about 740 mph). But, at 20ºC, room temperature, sound travels at 343 meters per second (767 mph).
2006-10-21 07:19:26 · answer #1 · answered by Folken 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some bad science here. How would molecules collide more often at lower temperatures?
And colder gas doesn't mean denser gas. It can, but it doesn't have to.
At equal pressures, sound will travel faster through warmer air.
2006-10-21 15:14:24 · answer #2 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All else being the same, the warmer the temperature the faster sound travels.
2006-10-21 14:29:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
warmer the air faster the sound.
2006-10-21 14:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by jay s 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sound travels faster through a denser media.
i vote for 0 degrees.
God bless,
gabe
2006-10-21 14:20:17 · answer #5 · answered by gabegm1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋