IGCSE/GCSE/O & A Level/IB/University Student Forum

Qualification => Subject Doubts => IGCSE/ GCSE => Sciences => Topic started by: Sea Lover on December 15, 2011, 04:31:08 pm

Title: physics question
Post by: Sea Lover on December 15, 2011, 04:31:08 pm

how does the speed of sound vary with temperature of air? does it increase as temperature increases or does it decrease ?and why?
thanx

Title: Re: physics question
Post by: Most UniQue™ on December 20, 2011, 12:34:29 pm

Quote from: Sea Lover on December 15, 2011, 04:31:08 pm

how does the speed of sound vary with temperature of air? does it increase as temperature increases or does it decrease ?and why?
thanx

Speed of sound is directly proportional to the temperaure. Thus when the temperature increases , the speed of sound also increases. This is because at higher temperatures, molecules will have more energy and vibrate more. This increased vibration of the molecules causes the sound waves to be traveled at a faster rate.

For example:
The speed of sound at room temperature is 346 meters per second while at freezing temperatures is 331m/s.