If the speed of sound is faster in denser air..

On 17 Dec 2005 09:45:07 -0800, "nrp" wrote in
.com::

"in an ideal gas the sonic velocity depends only on the molecular
weight and the absolute temperature (degF + 460), and is proportional
to the square root of that absolute temperature".

In which units does that equation provide the sonic velocity?

More he
http://roger.ecn.purdue.edu/~aerodyn...Lecture06.html

When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm. It was a
lot simpler before Metric became PC. (I wonder how we happened to keep
seconds?)

"nrp" wrote in message
oups.com...

When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm. It was a
lot simpler before Metric became PC.


I found the MKS system to be simpler.

nrp wrote:
When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm. It was a
lot simpler before Metric became PC. (I wonder how we happened to keep
seconds?)


You must be REALLY old as the SI system has been around at least since
1875. :-)


Matt

On 17 Dec 2005 12:07:43 -0800, "nrp" wrote in
.com::

When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.

So you don't know if your equation expresses sonic velocity in knots
or MPH?

In hotter air the molecules can move faster, so they carry disturbances
(sound waves) faster.

In denser substances such as water and steel, the molecules do not move
far from a central point so the increased temperature does not give
them the opportunity to transmit the sound disturbance at a faster rate
when heated.

However, because of the greater density and the fact that molecules are
closer together in water and steel than in air, sound does travel
faster in water and steel than in air. The closer the molecules are
together, the more quickly a disturbance is transmitted from one
molecule to another.

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 17 Dec 2005 12:07:43 -0800, "nrp" wrote in
.com::

When I took thermo, there were only ft lbs, BTUs, and lbm.

So you don't know if your equation expresses sonic velocity in knots
or MPH?