What is the Speed of Sound in Air?

Answer: The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 meters per second (m/s) at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit).

The speed of sound is higher in warmer air and lower in colder air due to the effect of temperature on air density. In general, sound travels faster in solids and liquids compared to gases. The speed of sound can be calculated using the formula:

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where:

• is the speed of sound
• is the adiabatic index (ratio of specific heats),
• P is the pressure,
• is the density of the medium.

In everyday conditions, the speed of sound is often approximated as 343 m/s in dry air at room temperature. This value is commonly used for various applications, such as calculating the distance to a lightning strike or understanding the behavior of sound waves in different environments.