Question

The speed of sound in air at 0°C is nearly:
A) 1430 ${{m}}{{{s}}^{{{ - 1}}}}$
B) 450 ${{m}}{{{s}}^{{{ - 1}}}}$
C) 5100 ${{m}}{{{s}}^{{{ - 1}}}}$
D) 330 ${{m}}{{{s}}^{{{ - 1}}}}$

Answer 1

The speed of sound is the net distance travelled per unit time by a sound wave. Apply the formula for velocity of sound in air.

Complete answer:
The speed of sound is the net distance travelled per unit time by a sound wave. At 20 °C, the speed of sound in air is about 343 m/s, and at 0 °C the speed of sound is about 331.5 m/s.
The speed of sound changes with temperature, humidity, and the characteristics of the medium through which sound is propagating. The speed increases by 0.6 m/s for every degree-Celsius increase in temperature. However, the speed of sound in ideal gas depends only on the temperature. With the change of state in matters, the speed of the sound wave also varies. Sound typically travels the fastest in solids and the slowest in gases.
Sound travels most slowly in gases, faster in liquids, and faster still in solids. For example, the speed of sound is about 343 m/s in air, while the same is 1,481 m/s in water.
So, at 0 °C the speed of sound is about 330 m/s.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: The speed of sound changes with temperature, humidity, and the characteristics of the medium through which sound is propagating. The speed increases by 0.6 m/s for every degree-Celsius increase in temperature. However, the speed of sound in ideal gas depends only on the temperature.