1. What is the Speed of Sound Formula?

The speed of sound formula calculates the speed at which sound waves propagate through a medium. For ideal gases, 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 formula:

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 formula shows that sound speed increases with temperature and decreases with molecular mass of the gas.

3. Importance of Speed of Sound Calculation

Details: Calculating sound speed is essential in acoustics, engineering, meteorology, and various scientific applications where sound propagation through gases is studied.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the adiabatic index, gas constant, temperature in Kelvin, and molar mass. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the typical value for adiabatic index (γ)?
A: For diatomic gases like air, γ is approximately 1.4. For monatomic gases like helium, it's about 1.67.

Q2: Why is temperature measured in Kelvin?
A: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale where 0K represents absolute zero, making it appropriate for thermodynamic calculations.

Q3: What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature?
A: Approximately 343 m/s at 20°C (293K) with γ=1.4, R=8.314 J/mol·K, and M=0.029 kg/mol for air.

Q4: Does sound travel faster in warm or cold air?
A: Sound travels faster in warm air because the speed of sound increases with temperature.

Q5: How does molar mass affect sound speed?
A: Sound travels slower in gases with higher molar mass. For example, sound travels faster in helium (low molar mass) than in air.