After reading
this section you will be able to do
the following:
Explain whether
or not the speed of sound is constant for all materials.
Describe what
elasticity and density are and what relationship they have to the
speed of sound.
You are in a long mining tunnel deep under
the earth. You have a friend that is several thousands of feet away
from you in the tunnel. You tell this person using a walkie talkie to
yell and clang on the pipes on the tunnel floor at the same time. Press
the play button below to find out what happens.
Speeds
of Sound
Material
Speed of Sound
Rubber
60 m/s
Air at 40oC
355 m/s
Glass
4540 m/s
Lead
1210 m/s
Stone
5971 m/s
Copper
3100 m/s
Questions
What happens
when you change the material through which the sound travels?
Through which
material does sound move faster? Why do you think it is faster?
