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Speed of sound
Speed of sound
Physics • Waves
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The ‘speed of sound’ is the distance travelled by a sound wave pulse every second, measured in m/s.
Sound wave speed depends on the medium: it is about 340 m/s in air, faster in liquids and faster still in solids.
Sound waves can reflect from hard surfaces, travel back and be heard again (an echo).
The speed of sound waves (or the distance they travel) can be calculated using the equation: speed = distance ÷ time.
In an experiment, measuring longer distances and times means any errors are a smaller proportion of the measurements.