The math is straight forward, but it's still hard to conceptualize. The
atmosphere has many components and each component can vary. So regardless of
the percentages of gasses in the atmosphere, like CO, CO2, O2, O3, and
regardless of the dissolved water, the speed of sound remains constant.
These constituents change the density, but do not change the speed of sound.
Likewise, the speed of sound is the same at the north pole at sea level
at -60F, as it is on top of mount Everest at -60F. Although the air is much
denser at the north pole, the math says that the speed of sound is the same.
Right?
- posted 18 years ago