Speed of Sound Calculator
Calculate speed of sound in different media
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Temperature
Input the temperature in Celsius. Speed of sound increases with temperature in gases but decreases with temperature in liquids (above 4°C for water).
Select Medium
Choose the medium: Air, Fresh Water, or Seawater. Each has different formulas for calculating speed of sound.
Calculate
Click calculate to get the speed of sound in the selected medium at the specified temperature.
Formulas
Air: c = 331.3 + 0.606 × T
where T is temperature in Celsius
Fresh Water: c ≈ 1402 + 5T - 0.055T² + 0.00029T³
where T is temperature in Celsius
Seawater: c ≈ 1449.2 + 4.6T - 0.055T² + 0.00029T³
where T is temperature in Celsius
Example (Air at 20°C):
c = 331.3 + 0.606 × 20 = 331.3 + 12.12 = 343.42 m/s
Example (Water at 20°C):
c ≈ 1402 + 5(20) - 0.055(20)² + 0.00029(20)³ ≈ 1482 m/s
Sound travels about 4.3 times faster in water than in air.
About Speed of Sound Calculator
The Speed of Sound Calculator determines the speed at which sound waves travel through different media (air, water, seawater) based on temperature. Speed of sound is a fundamental property that affects wave propagation, wavelength, and frequency relationships.
When to Use This Calculator
- Physics Education: Learn about wave propagation and speed of sound
- Acoustics: Calculate wavelengths and frequencies for sound waves
- Underwater Acoustics: Determine sound speed in water for sonar applications
- Meteorology: Understand how temperature affects sound propagation in air
- Engineering: Design systems that depend on sound speed
- Science Projects: Calculate sound speeds for experiments
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Quick Calculations: Get speed of sound instantly
- ✅ Multiple Media: Supports air, water, and seawater
- ✅ Temperature Dependent: Accounts for temperature effects
- ✅ Accurate Formulas: Uses standard empirical formulas
- ✅ Free Tool: No registration required
Understanding Speed of Sound
Speed of sound depends on the medium's properties (density and elasticity) and temperature. In gases, speed increases with temperature. In liquids, the relationship is more complex and depends on the specific liquid.
- Sound travels faster in denser, more rigid media
- In air, speed increases ~0.6 m/s per °C
- Sound is much faster in liquids than in gases
- Sound is fastest in solids (typically 1000-6000 m/s)
- At 0°C in air, speed is ~331 m/s
- At 20°C in air, speed is ~343 m/s
Typical Speeds of Sound
- Air (0°C): 331 m/s
- Air (20°C): 343 m/s
- Water (20°C): ~1482 m/s
- Seawater (20°C): ~1520 m/s
- Steel: ~5000 m/s
Frequently Asked Questions
How does temperature affect speed of sound?
In air, speed of sound increases with temperature: c = 331.3 + 0.606T (T in °C). In water, speed increases with temperature up to about 74°C, then decreases slightly.
Why does sound travel faster in water than air?
Sound travels faster in water because water is denser and more incompressible than air. The speed of sound depends on the medium's density and bulk modulus (stiffness).
What is the speed of sound at room temperature?
At 20°C (room temperature), speed of sound in air is approximately 343 m/s (about 1235 km/h or 767 mph).
Does humidity affect speed of sound?
Yes, humidity slightly affects speed of sound in air. Higher humidity increases speed slightly, but the effect is small compared to temperature. At typical conditions, humidity changes speed by less than 1%.
Can sound travel faster than light?
No, sound cannot travel faster than light. Light travels at ~300,000,000 m/s in vacuum, while sound travels at ~343 m/s in air. However, sound can travel faster than light in certain dense media (like water), but this is a different phenomenon - light slows down in materials.