what are the factors that affect the speed of sound?

Answer 1

the properties of enviroment(usually gases) in which sound moves just have effects and the are:
The gas Material( a 1 atom gas or 2 atom gas or multi atom gas), Tempreature(Kelvin Unit), it's Molcules mass

Answer 2

The speed of sound is calculated based on the compressibility of the fluid.

More specifically the formula is


a^2 = dp/drho

where a is the speed of sound
dp is the partial derivative of the pressure
and drho is the partial derivative of the density of the fluid.

If we assume that the process of the wave propagating is isentropic (temperature and velocity gradients small) then this formula simplifies to (for a perfect gas)

a^2= phi*R*T

Where Phi is adiabatic index or the isentropic expansion factor. It is the ratio of specific heats of a gas at a constant-pressure to a gas at a constant-volume(Cp / Cv).
R is a constant 8.3145 (Molar Gas constant)
T is the temperature in Kelvins.

Note: T is a function of pressure as well

In summary, the speed of sound is depend on the pressure and density of the fluid more specifically it is the rate of change of pressure over the density. For a perfect gas this simplifies to the temperature (which is a function of pressure).

Answer 3

The speed of sound is determined by the density of the medium and a measure of its structure (stiffness or resistance to deformation): Young's modulus for solids and compressibility for fluids. In gases, the compressibility is related to the temperature, pressure and adiabaticity (statistical specific heats). The speed of sound can vary considerably based on the composition of the gas due to the statistics of the bulk molecular structure and the underlying vibrational and rotational modes of the consituent molecules. This also admits disparities over the frequency spectrum (similar in solids and other fluids). This is why the speed of sound will vary with humidity.

In a relativitistic fluid, the density is simply the energy density (through the mass-energy relationship E=mc^2). In both cases, it is the square root of the adiabatic partial derivative of pressure by density.

Answer 4

sound does not travel in a vacuum
sound travels in a medium
the more solid the medium the more is the velocity
. . . velocity in a iron bar is faster than in water. . . than in air
temperature also affect the velocity of sound
sound direction can be deviated when encountering another medium. . . sound in air will change direction when block by a concrete wall
humidity also affects the speed of sound
reverberation also affect the speed
others are not yet verified: such as magnetic flux or solar flare

Answer 5

In a gas, the speed of sound is determined by temperature and molecular weigh mostly. In fluids and solids it's determined by elastic modulus and density. The reference gives the detailed formulae for the three phases.

Answer 6

Everything what is there affect the speed of sound...depending on the location.

Answer 7

Density of the medium through which sound is travelling.
Water, being much denser then air, will conduct sound faster than in air.
Lower temperature will increase density. Sound will travel faster in colder air.

Answer 8

Air presure- (altitude) (less air means less resistance) Sound travels through air when the vibration passes from one molecule of air to the next until it reached your ear. Since there is more air at ground level sound travels faster.

Temperature, -because just as sound travels faster through water than through air it also moves faster through cold air than warm air because warm air is less dense.

I don't like to give such short answers but really that's about all there is to it.

Answer 9

the speed of the sound is affected higher when their is more absorbing substance present in the path of the sound travelling.and the speed of sound is much greater when thier are more refecting surface.

Answer 10

SPEED OF SOUND IS AFFECTED BY DISTANCE,LOUDNESS(amplitude of vibratory body,area of vibratory body ),PITCHE,FREQUENCY,DIRECTION OF WINDS,QUALITY OF SOUND(NOISY OR MUSICAL)AND INTENSITY OF SOUND.