Speed of Sound (a) Calculator

The speed of sound (), also known as the sound velocity or the sonic speed, represents the speed at which pressure waves (sound waves) travel through a medium, such as air. In the context of aircraft design and aerodynamics, the speed of sound is a critical parameter because it defines the boundary between subsonic and supersonic flight.

The formula for calculating the speed of sound () in dry air at a specific temperature is given by:

     

  • is the speed of sound (typically in meters per second or feet per second).
  • is the ratio of specific heats (dimensionless), approximately equal to 1.4 for dry air.
  • is the specific gas constant for dry air (approximately 287.05 J/(kg·K) in the SI unit system).
  • is the absolute temperature of the air (in kelvin).

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