Question

On a winter day sound travels 336 meters in one second. Find the atmospheric temperature. Speed of sound at 0${}^{\circ }$ C = 332 m s${}^{-1}$.

• A. 7${}^{\circ }$C.
• B. 14${}^{\circ }$C.
• C. 0${}^{\circ }$C.
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A

7${}^{\circ }$C.

The speed of sound is proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature.

The speed of sound at 0${}^{\circ }$C or 273 K is 332 m s${}^{-1}$. If the atmospheric temperature is T,

$\frac{336m{s}^{-1}}{332m{s}^{-1}}=\sqrt{\frac{T}{273K}}$

or $T={\left(\frac{336}{332}\right)}^2\times 273K=280K$

or, $T$ =7${}^{\circ }$C.