2006-12-11 05:22:44 · 9 answers · asked by Rajab R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The speed of sound is a term used to describe the speed of sound waves passing through an elastic medium. The speed varies with the medium employed (for example, sound waves move faster through water than through air), as well as with the properties of the medium, especially temperature. The term is commonly used to refer specifically to the speed of sound in air. At sea level, at a temperature of 21 °C (70 °F) and under normal atmospheric conditions, the speed of sound is 344 m/s (1238 km/h or 770 mph).
The speed of sound is sometimes used in describing the nature of substances (see the article on sodium).
In conventional use and in scientific literature sound velocity, v, and sound speed, c, are used synonymously and should not be confused with sound particle velocity (also symbolized as v), which is the velocity of the individual particles.
The speed varies depending on atmospheric conditions; the most important factor is the temperature. Humidity has little effect on the speed of sound, nor does air pressure per se. Air pressure has no effect at all in an ideal gas approximation. This is because pressure and density both contribute to sound velocity equally, and in an ideal gas the two effects cancel out, leaving only the effect of temperature. Sound usually travels more slowly with greater altitude, due to reduced temperature. An approximate speed of sound in 0 % humidity (dry) air, in meters per second (m·s-1), at temperatures near 0 °C, can be calculated from:
c=√(C/p)
2006-12-11 05:27:20 · answer #1 · answered by Andres 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Velocity = distance / time.
By sending a sound wave towards a wall, and measuring the time taken for its echo to bounce back, we can use the above formula to find its velocity.
2006-12-11 10:49:17 · answer #2 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lay out the total distance traveled in a unmarried 2d (510 meters) and be certain what percentage waves 20 meters lengthy will slot contained in the total distance (510/20 = 25.5 waves in line with 2d, the frequency of the waves!). Use an same reasoning for something of your question. formula are shortcuts yet a actual image aids comprehend-how. plug in l, v and f (length, velocity and frequency) out of your description to derive the formula. good luck.
2016-11-25 20:56:47 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's actually very easy to measure - you can do it yourself with a friend. Just get your friend to stand about 200-300m away - you should measure this distance. He puts his hand up, then when he drops it you start your stopwatch. At the same time as dropping his hand, he should make a loud noise. You should stop the stopwatch when you hear the noise. If he's 300m away and the noise is loud enough you should notice almost 1second delay.
2006-12-11 08:11:40 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By measuring it with some kind of instrument for measuring sound of course. The data collected can be calculated using V=d/t
Even the speed of light was measured with special instrument for measuring light.
Cheers
2006-12-14 00:35:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They measure it. They have sensors a known distance apart, and the time between one microphone hearing a specific sound and the other microphone hearing the same sound indicates that sound wave's speed.
2006-12-11 05:26:47 · answer #6 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is possible, although inaccurate, to measure the speed of sound with a recorder and a frequency spectrum analyser. Interesting, but fiddly and inaccurate.
2006-12-12 03:53:26 · answer #7 · answered by arual 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By simple experiments...
2006-12-11 05:38:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They get a southern county mounty with his radar gun
2006-12-11 05:28:02 · answer #9 · answered by Lost in Merryland 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋