What is the speed of sound in air?

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Sharpen your skills for the Davies Publishing SPI Test with targeted flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and clarifications. Prepare thoroughly for success!

Multiple Choice

What is the speed of sound in air?

Explanation:
In air, the speed of sound is determined by temperature and the medium’s properties; for typical room temperature it’s about 330 m/s. The exact value is around 343 m/s at 20°C, but 330 m/s is the common classroom approximation used for air. This speed is much slower than in liquids or solids because air is a much less stiff and less dense medium. The other numbers point to speeds in different media: about 1,500 m/s is typical of sound in water, and several thousand meters per second occur in solids like steel or glass. So 330 m/s best matches the speed of sound in air.

In air, the speed of sound is determined by temperature and the medium’s properties; for typical room temperature it’s about 330 m/s. The exact value is around 343 m/s at 20°C, but 330 m/s is the common classroom approximation used for air. This speed is much slower than in liquids or solids because air is a much less stiff and less dense medium.

The other numbers point to speeds in different media: about 1,500 m/s is typical of sound in water, and several thousand meters per second occur in solids like steel or glass. So 330 m/s best matches the speed of sound in air.

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