Why and how does temperature effect the speed of sound in air?

Question

I know temperature does effect the speed of dound in air but why and how?
=P
Thankyou =)

Answer 1

Sound is carried by molecules in the air hitting off each other, passing on the vibration. The faster the molecules are moving, the faster the sound can travel.

In a gas, heat is motion of the molecules. Hot just means that the molecules are moving quickly. So the hotter the gas gets, the faster the molecules and the faster sound can travel.

Answer 2

The difference in temperature will affect the barometric pressure in the air. Hot air will have a high pressure and cool air have low pressure. The difference in the pressure affects the molecules of the moving air, lower temperatures creates friction therefor the speed of the sound increases while it travels. While higher temperature is stagnant and moves the air molecules slowly and therefor there is not much friction and the sound will travel at slower rate.

Answer 3

Very hot air is thinner. There are fewer air molecules per parts to vibrate against each other to transfer sound waves. So, sound would travel slower. Cooler air is denser, the molecules are pressed closer together and sound vibrations move faster.

Answer 4

temp. rise increases speed of sound & vice versa if temp. low