12.

2 At the
speed of
sound
page 168 - 170
Presented by:
MR. RYAN C. CABRERA
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Post Baccalaureate in Teacher Education
Master in Educational Management
 DID YOU KNOW THAT

The speed of sound in air is about 330 meters per second (m/s),
or 1200 kilometers per hour (km/hr) which is about ten (10) times
the speed of cars on a major highway.

Normally, sound travels 1 kilometer (km) in about 3 seconds (s).

When someone speaks, it seems to us that we hear the sound they

make as soon as they make it. However, it takes a small amount of
time to reach our ears.
 Speed of Sound in Air
at any temperature other than 0 C

m C 273
v 330

s 273
where:
v - speed of sound
300 m/s - speed of sound in air
C - temperature in degrees Celsius
 CONVERSION OF TEMPERATURE

Deg. Fahrenheit to Deg. Celsius C F 32

5
9
Kelvin to Deg. Celsius C K 273

Deg. Rankine to Deg. Celsius F R 460 step 1

C F 32 step 2
5
9
 Example 1
What is the speed of sound in air at 600 C?

m C 273
v 330

s 273
m 600 273
v 330
s 273
m
v 590.119 590.12
s
 TRY THIS !!!
What is the speed of sound in air at the
following temperature?

a. 845 C
b. 800 K
c. 212 F
d. 700 R
 d
Example 2 v
If we are speaking to someone who is t
just 1 meter away, the time for sounds d
to travel between us is:
t
v
1m
t
This is far too short time for us to hear.
330 m / s
t 0.003 s
ECHO VS. REVERBERATION
Echo
Perceived when then the reflected sound wave reaches your ear in
more than 0.1 seconds after the original sound wave.
Reverberation
Perceived when the reflected sound wave reaches your ear in
less than 0.1 second after the original sound wave.
Bats use a sophisticated
sonar system to
navigate (find position)
and to catch prey (food).
 Sound travels a distance (d)
of 2d meters
( from the ship to the cliff and
back again )
 Example 3 2d
Assuming the speed of sound in v
t
water is 1500 m/s and it takes vt
0.4 seconds for an echo. What is d
2
distance needed to hear the m
sound? 1500 0.4 s
d s
2
d 300 m
Sound travels a distance (d)
of 2d in meters
( from the source to the wall/barrier
and back again )
Speed of Sound in Different Materials at STP (Standard Temperature & Pressure)
T = 273 K or 0C P = 1 atm (atmosphere) or 760 mmHg (millimeter mercury)
Material Speed of Sound in m / s
Gases Air 330
Hydrogen 1280
Oxygen 316
Carbon Dioxide 268
Liquids Water 1500
Sea water 1530
Mercury 1450
Solids Glass 5000
Iron, steel 5100
Lead 1200
Copper 3800
Wood (oak ) 3800
 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SPEED OF SOUND IN AIR
1. Temperature of the air. 3. Altitude ( height ) that you are at.
2. Density of the air. 4. Pressure