1. What is the Speed of Sound Formula?

The speed of sound formula calculates the speed 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 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 molar mass of the gas.

3. Importance of Speed of Sound Calculation

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

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the adiabatic index, gas constant (default is 8.314 J/mol·K), temperature in Kelvin, and molar mass in kg/mol. All values must be positive.

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: Why does temperature affect sound speed?
A: Higher temperature increases molecular motion, allowing sound waves to propagate faster through the medium.

Q3: What is the molar mass of air?
A: The average molar mass of dry air is approximately 0.02897 kg/mol.

Q4: Does humidity affect sound speed?
A: Yes, humidity slightly affects the effective molar mass and adiabatic index of air, which changes sound speed.

Q5: What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature?
A: Approximately 343 m/s at 20°C (293 K) in dry air.