How fast does sound travel

Sound travels at approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second) in dry air at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). This speed depends on factors such as temperature, humidity, and medium – sound travels faster in solids and liquids than in air. Some key facts about the speed of sound:

• The speed of sound roughly doubles when going from air to water. It travels at 1,482 meters per second (4,869 feet per second) in seawater.

• In solids, sound travels much faster. It travels at 3,240 meters per second (10,627 feet per second) in steel and 5,100 meters per second (16,728 feet per second) in diamond.

• The speed of sound increases with temperature. It travels about 0.6 meters per second (2 feet per second) faster for every degree Celsius increase in temperature.

• Humidity does not significantly affect the speed of sound in air. The effect is less than 1%.

• The speed of sound is slower in gases with higher molecular mass. Helium has a lower molecular mass, so sound travels faster in helium at about 1,000 meters per second.

So in summary, the speed of sound in dry air at room temperature is around 343 meters per second. But the actual speed depends on various factors like temperature, medium, and gas composition. The speed significantly increases in solids and liquids compared to air.