03/02/2026
The speed of sound is how fast vibrations travel as a wave through a medium, measured in meters per second, and it varies significantly depending on the medium (solid, liquid, gas) and its temperature, generally being fastest in solids and slowest in gases, but increasing with temperature in any given medium. In dry air at 20°C (68°F), it's about 343 m/s, but it's much faster in water and solids like steel, and slower in colder air.
Key Factors Affecting Speed:
Medium: Sound travels faster in denser, more rigid materials (solids > liquids > gases) because molecules are closer, allowing quicker energy transfer.
Temperature: Higher temperatures increase molecular motion, making sound travel faster (e.g., faster in hot air than cold air).
Density & Elasticity: In gases, temperature and composition matter; in liquids/solids, density and elasticity (stiffness) are key, with higher elasticity generally increasing speed.
Examples of Speed:
Air (20°C): ~343 m/s (767 mph)
Water (20°C): ~1,480 m/s
Steel: ~5,960 m/s (much faster than air or water)
How It Works:
Sound travels as compressions and rarefactions (areas of high and low pressure). The speed is determined by how quickly these vibrations pass from one particle to the next, not the speed of the particles themselves.
Measurement:
Formula: Speed (v) = Wavelength (λ) × Frequency (f).
Units: Meters per second (m/s).