1. What is the Speed of Sound Equation?

The speed of sound equation calculates the velocity at which sound waves propagate through a gas medium. It depends on the adiabatic index, gas constant, temperature, and molar mass of the gas.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the speed of sound equation:

Where:

• \( v \) — Speed of sound (m/s)
• \( \gamma \) — Adiabatic index (unitless)
• \( R \) — Gas constant (8.314 J/mol·K)
• \( T \) — Temperature (K)
• \( M \) — Molar mass (kg/mol)

Explanation: The equation shows that speed of sound increases with temperature and decreases with molar mass of the gas.

3. Importance of Speed of Sound Calculation

Details: Calculating speed of sound is crucial for various applications including aerodynamics, acoustics, meteorology, and engineering design of supersonic vehicles and musical instruments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter adiabatic index (γ), gas constant (R), temperature in Kelvin, and molar mass in kg/mol. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the typical adiabatic index for air?
A: For dry air at standard conditions, γ is approximately 1.4.

Q2: How does temperature affect speed of sound?
A: Speed of sound increases with the square root of absolute temperature.

Q3: Why is molar mass important?
A: Lighter gases (lower molar mass) generally have higher speed of sound. Hydrogen has much higher speed of sound than air.

Q4: What is speed of sound in air at room temperature?
A: Approximately 343 m/s at 20°C (293 K) in dry air.

Q5: Does humidity affect speed of sound?
A: Yes, humidity slightly increases speed of sound as water vapor has lower molar mass than dry air.