Speed of Sound Calculator

What Is The Speed of Sound?

Speed of sound mph is defined as;

“The distance traveled by the sound waves in a given time interval as they propagate in an elastic medium”

The speed of sound is influenced by both the temperature and the medium through which the sound wave travels. At a temperature of 20 °C, sound waves travel at approximately:

• \(v \approx 343 \, \text{m/s}\)
• Approximately 1 km in 2.91 s
• Approximately 1 mile in 4.69 s

How To Calculate The Speed of Sound?

The speed of sound in mph can be calculated using the formula:

\(v = \sqrt{\frac{\gamma \cdot P}{\rho}}\)

Where:

• v = Speed of sound
• γ = Heat capacity ratio of the medium (approximately 1.4 for air)
• P = Pressure of the medium
• ρ = Density of the medium

Speed of Sound in Water:

The speed of sound in water at sea level can be calculated using the formula:

\[ v = \sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho}} \]

Where:

• \(B\) = Bulk modulus of elasticity of water
• \(\rho\) = Density of water

At the water temperature of 20 °C, the speed of sound in water is approximately; 1481 m/s 5332 km/h 4859 ft/s 3313 mph

Speed of Sound in Air:

Air can be considered nearly an ideal gas. The speed of sound in dry air under standard atmospheric conditions can be calculated using the formula:

\[ v = \sqrt{\gamma \cdot R \cdot T} \]

Where:

• \(\gamma\) = Heat capacity ratio of the medium (approximately 1.4 for air)
• \(R\) = Specific gas constant for dry air (\(287 \, \text{J/(kg·K)}\))
• \(T\) = Absolute temperature of the air in Kelvin

At an air temperature of 20 °C, the speed of sound in dry air is approximately:

• \(v \approx 343.14 \, \text{m/s}\)
• \(v \approx 1235.3 \, \text{km/h}\)
• \(v \approx 1125.8 \, \text{ft/s}\)
• \(v \approx 767.6 \, \text{mph}\)

How To Use Speed of Sound Calculator?

Required Entities:

• Put the temperature of the air
• By selecting the unit, enter the temperature of the water.
• Press on "calculate"

Additional Questions:

How Fast Can Sound Travel in mph?

At sea level, the speed of sound is approximately:

• \(v \approx 760 \, \text{mph}\)
• \(v \approx 1100 \, \text{ft/s}\)

Why Sound Moves Faster in Water Than in Air?

The speed of sound is faster in water than in air:

• In water: \(v \approx 1500 \, \text{m/s}\)
• In air: \(v \approx 340 \, \text{m/s}\)

This difference occurs because the mechanical properties of water (density and bulk modulus) are very different from those of air, allowing sound waves to propagate faster.

Which Factors Affect Speed of Sound?

The speed of sound can vary with the following factors:

• Temperature & Pressure
• Medium & Altitude
• Density & Humidity
• Elasticity & stiffness
• Adiabatic Index
• Molecular weight