3.6.3

Speed of Sound

Test yourself

Speed of Sound

Sound needs to travel through a medium. The more rigid the medium is, the higher the speed of the sound wave through the medium. The more compressible the medium is, the slower the speed of the sound wave through the medium.

Illustrative background for GasesIllustrative background for Gases ?? "content

Gases

  • Gases are readily compressible (easy to squash), so the speed of sound in a gas is very slow.
Illustrative background for LiquidsIllustrative background for Liquids ?? "content

Liquids

  • Liquids are more rigid and less compressible than gases, so the speed of sound in liquids is much higher than in gases.
Illustrative background for SolidsIllustrative background for Solids ?? "content

Solids

  • Solids are significantly more rigid than liquids and gases and are very hard to compress.
  • Therefore, the speed of sound in solids is much higher than in liquids or gases.

Jump to other topics

1Motion, Forces & Energy

1.1Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques

1.2Motion

1.3Mass & Weight

1.4Density

1.5Forces: Effects of Forces

1.6Forces: Turning Effects of Forces

1.7Forces: Centre of Gravity

1.8Momentum

1.9Energy, Work, & Power: Energy

1.10Energy, Work & Power: Work

1.11Energy, Work & Power: Energy Resources

1.12Energy, Work & Power: Power

1.13Pressure

2Thermal Physics

3Waves

4Electricity & Magnetism

4.1Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

4.2Electrical Quantities: Electric Charge

4.3Electrical Quantities: Electric Current

4.4Electromotive Force & Potential Difference

4.5Electrical Quantities: Resistance

4.6Electrical Energy & Electrical Power

4.7Electric Circuits: Circuit Diagrams & Components

4.8Electric Circuits: Series & Parallel Circuits

4.9Electric Circuits: Action & Use

4.10Electrical Safety

4.11Electromagnetic Effects: Electromagnetic Induction

4.12Electromagnetic Effects: The A.C. Generator

4.13Magnetic Effect of a Current

4.14Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

4.15Electromagnetic Effects: The D.C. Motor

4.16Electromagnetic Effects: The Transformer

5Nuclear Physics

6Space Physics

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