Why does not the speed of sound depends on the pressure of the air?

1 Answer
Jun 7, 2018

See below

Explanation:

The original (Newton-Laplace) equation for the speed of sound in a fluid included a reference to the pressure of the fluid :

  • #c = sqrt((gamma P)/rho) qquad square#

Using the ideal gas law:

  • #PV = n RT#

And replacing with:

  • #n = m/M#, where M is molar mass

  • #rho = m/V#

  • #implies n = (rho V)/M#

Leads to:

# PV= (rho V)/M RT, qquad P = (rho RT)/M #

So:

#square implies c = sqrt((gamma RT)/M)#

An expression that references the temperature of the fluid.