What effect does increased humidity have on the speed of sound in air? Why?

Answer 1

it actually speeds it up, because humidity is moisture, which is basically water.
water conducts sound better than dry air

Answer 2

Increased humidity slows down sound waves, they take longer to travel the same distance.

Water as a true gas (not visible vapor, droplets, or steam) has a lower density then the dry mix of atmospheric gases, roughly 5/8Th's. This is why a dropping barometer indicates storms approaching,as the humidity goes up the air pressure goes down.

Sound travel fastest through materials of higher density.

These two facts together explain why the speed of sound is slower with high humidity.

Annoyingly, sound goes through water as a liquid much faster then it does through air, following the rule of increased speed in higher density matter.

Answer 3

With higher relative humidity, there are more particles in the air to vibrate and transmit sound therefore the speed of sound is faster. For instance, I am an aircraft tech, and I know at ground level our jets fly a faster speed at the speed of sound than at altitude. This is because the higher you get, the less particles there are in the air.

Answer 4

In fact humidity decreases the speed of sound.This is because moist air is considered to be lighter than dry air as it contains the moisture in the form of water vapour(not as water)which is considered to be an invisible gas.So, moist air is less dense and hence the speed of sound also becomes less.

Answer 5

It increases the speed and intensity of sound. The molecules are closer together due to the saturation of water vapor, and the sound wave can travel more quickly.

Answer 6

should be on physics
in speed of sound
liquid beats air
solid beats liquid
liquid is more dense to air so it vibrates more and quicker.