Question

The speed of sound in air is _________ temperature?

• A. independent of
• B. directly proportional to
• C. indirectly proportional to
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

directly proportional to

Sound waves require a medium in order to travel. A medium can be a solid, liquid, or a gas such as air. The speed of sound depends on both the elasticity and density of the medium. When the elasticity increases and density decreases of a medium, sound is allowed to travel faster.
Temperature affects the speed of sound by changing the density of the medium in which a sound wave travels. In most cases, when the temperature of a medium increases, so does the speed of sound through that medium. Higher temperatures lower the density of a medium, which puts less resistance on the sound waves.
The speed of sound increases by $0.6m/s$ for every ${}^{0}C$ increase in temperature..