The speed of sound is the rate at which sound waves travel through a medium, such as air, water, or a solid material. It represents the speed at which disturbances in pressure and density propagate through the medium, resulting in the transmission of sound. For ideal diatomic gases, such as dry air, the specific gas constant (ɣ) is approximately 1.4, and the speed of sound in air at room temperature (around 20°C) is approximately 343 meters per second (m/s) or about 767 miles per hour (mph). The speed of sound is the velocity at which sound waves travel through a medium, and it depends on the properties of the medium through which the sound is propagating.
- a: Speed of sound in the gas
- ɣ: Specific gas constant
- P: Pressure
- ρ: Density of the gas