Speed Of Sound In Feet Per Second:
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The speed of sound in feet per second represents how fast sound waves travel through a medium, typically air. At 20°C (68°F), sound travels at approximately 1125 feet per second in dry air.
The calculator uses the formula for speed of sound in air:
Where:
Explanation: The speed of sound increases with temperature because warmer air has higher molecular motion and better sound transmission.
Details: Calculating sound speed is crucial for audio engineering, acoustics, military applications, meteorology, and determining distance in sonar and radar systems.
Tips: Enter temperature in Celsius. The calculator will compute the speed of sound in feet per second for that temperature.
Q1: Why does sound speed vary with temperature?
A: Sound travels faster in warmer air because the air molecules have higher kinetic energy and can transmit sound vibrations more quickly.
Q2: What is the speed of sound at room temperature?
A: At 20°C (68°F), sound travels at approximately 1125 feet per second or 343 meters per second in dry air.
Q3: How does humidity affect sound speed?
A: Humidity has a minor effect on sound speed. Sound travels slightly faster in humid air than in dry air at the same temperature.
Q4: Does sound travel faster in water or air?
A: Sound travels about 4.3 times faster in water (approximately 4800 ft/s) than in air due to water's higher density and elasticity.
Q5: What is the speed of sound at absolute zero?
A: At absolute zero (-273.15°C), the speed of sound would theoretically approach zero as molecular motion ceases.