General discussion for aviators





If the speed of sound is faster in denser air..

… why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

That’s got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

Thanks in advance.

posted by admin in Uncategorized and have Comments (15)






15 Responses to “If the speed of sound is faster in denser air..”

  1. admin says:

    "xerj" <n…@nowhere.com> wrote in message

    news:m2Nof.25696$V7.24002@news-server.bigpond.net.au…

    > … why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
    > sound?

    Because density is not the sole determining factor for the sound of speed
    through some medium.

  2. admin says:

    Got it.

    Found a page that explains it :-

    http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00826.htm

    "Peter Duniho" <NpOeStPe…@NnOwSlPiAnMk.com> wrote in message

    news:11q78na384r2bd6@corp.supernews.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > "xerj" <n…@nowhere.com> wrote in message
    > news:m2Nof.25696$V7.24002@news-server.bigpond.net.au…
    >> … why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
    >> sound?

    > Because density is not the sole determining factor for the sound of speed
    > through some medium.

  3. admin says:

    "xerj" <n…@nowhere.com> wrote in message

    news:m2Nof.25696$V7.24002@news-server.bigpond.net.au…

    > … why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
    > sound?

    > That’s got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

    > Thanks in advance.

    The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

  4. admin says:

    In article <yJUof.7034$nm.3…@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,
     "Steven  P. McNicoll" <roncach…@earthlink.net> wrote:

    > "xerj" <n…@nowhere.com> wrote in message
    > news:m2Nof.25696$V7.24002@news-server.bigpond.net.au…

    > > … why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
    > > sound?

    > > That’s got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

    > > Thanks in advance.

    > The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

    The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.


    Bob Noel
    New NHL?  what a joke

  5. admin says:

    Bob Noel wrote:
    >>> Thanks in advance.
    >> The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

    > The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

    The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
    temperature.   For other types of mediums, the temperature is
    less of a factor.   The general formula for the speed of sound
    is the density divided by the bulk modulus.   The issue is that
    with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
    other out.

    In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor.   The speed
    of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
    to temperature.

  6. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Ron Natalie wrote:
    > Bob Noel wrote:

    >>>> Thanks in advance.

    >>> The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

    >> The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

    > The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
    > temperature.   For other types of mediums, the temperature is
    > less of a factor.   The general formula for the speed of sound
    > is the density divided by the bulk modulus.   The issue is that
    > with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
    > other out.

    > In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor.   The speed
    > of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
    > to temperature.

    Commpressibility is the major factor.   Water isn’t very compressible
    and transmits sound quite well, but air is and sound dissipates.
    Frequency dispersion which has to do with how well various frequencies
    are transmitted, affects how much the receiver will understand what is
    being sent.  It is an exceedingly complicated phenomenom — ask any
    sonar designer or a Navy weapons person.

  7. admin says:

    "Ron Natalie" <r…@spamcop.net> wrote in message

    news:43a4282f$0$28495$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com…

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    > Bob Noel wrote:

    >>>> Thanks in advance.
    >>> The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

    >> The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

    > The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
    > temperature.   For other types of mediums, the temperature is
    > less of a factor.   The general formula for the speed of sound
    > is the density divided by the bulk modulus.   The issue is that
    > with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
    > other out.

    > In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor.   The speed
    > of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
    > to temperature.

    You’re mixing apples and oranges.  Water (H2O) does not equal salt water
    (H2O + NaCl).  They  are two different media.  Just as air is a nominal mix
    of N + O + a few other gasses.  Change that mix and it’s a different media
    with a different gamma and bulk modulus (R). So your density change is
    really a change in media.

    If the media doesn’t change, density doesn’t have an effect on the speed of
    sound.  Changing the media changes the gamma and R; but for any one specific
    media, only temperature will cause a change in the speed of sound.

    Gerry

  8. admin says:

    "Bob Noel" <ihatessppa…@netscape.com.invalid> wrote in message

    news:ihatessppaamm-789083.09172717122005@news.isp.giganews.com…

    > The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

    The medium under discussion per the subject line is air.  Since this is a
    piloting group it can be reasonably assumed to be air at temperatures found
    in the atmosphere.  Air at atmospheric temperatures behaves as an ideal gas
    and the speed of sound in an ideal gas is a function of temperature.

  9. admin says:

    Deriving the sonic velocity is one favorite question for the final exam
    of mechanical engineering thermodynamics courses.  From my old
    textbook:

    "in an ideal gas the sonic velocity depends only on the molecular
    weight and the absolute temperature (degF + 460), and is proportional
    to the square root of that absolute temperature".

  10. admin says:

    On 17 Dec 2005 09:45:07 -0800, "nrp" <dane…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    <1134841507.833996.195…@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>::

    >"in an ideal gas the sonic velocity depends only on the molecular
    >weight and the absolute temperature (degF + 460), and is proportional
    >to the square root of that absolute temperature".

    In which units does that equation provide the sonic velocity?

    More here:
    http://roger.ecn.purdue.edu/~aerodyn/AAE334/FALL05/html/Lectures/Lect

  11. admin says:

    When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.  It was a
    lot simpler before Metric became PC. (I wonder how we happened to keep
    seconds?)

  12. admin says:

    "nrp" <dane…@earthlink.net> wrote in message

    news:1134850062.961441.126170@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com…

    > When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.  It was a
    > lot simpler before Metric became PC.

    I found the MKS system to be simpler.

  13. admin says:

    nrp wrote:
    > When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.  It was a
    > lot simpler before Metric became PC. (I wonder how we happened to keep
    > seconds?)

    You must be REALLY old as the SI system has been around at least since
    1875.  :-)

    Matt

  14. admin says:

    On 17 Dec 2005 12:07:43 -0800, "nrp" <dane…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    <1134850062.961441.126…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>::

    >When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.

    So you don’t know if your equation expresses sonic velocity in knots
    or MPH?

  15. admin says:

    In hotter air the molecules can move faster, so they carry disturbances
    (sound waves) faster.

    In denser substances such as water and steel, the molecules do not move
    far from a central point so the increased temperature does not give
    them the opportunity to transmit the sound disturbance at a faster rate
    when heated.

    However, because of the greater density and the fact that molecules are
    closer together in water and steel than in air, sound does travel
    faster in water and steel than in air. The closer the molecules are
    together, the more quickly a disturbance is transmitted from one
    molecule to another.

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    Larry Dighera wrote:
    > On 17 Dec 2005 12:07:43 -0800, "nrp" <dane…@earthlink.net> wrote in
    > <1134850062.961441.126…@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>::

    > >When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.

    > So you don’t know if your equation expresses sonic velocity in knots
    > or MPH?







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