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Sound Speed in Gases

This online calculator computes speed of sound in an ideal gas.

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The speed of sound in an ideal gas is given by the equation

$V_{s}=\sqrt{\frac{\gamma R T}{M} }$,

where
R - the universal gas constant, 8.314 J/(mol K)
T - the absolute temperature, K
M - the molecular mass of gas, kg/mol
gamma - the adiabatic constant of gas.

You can find the calculator below.
Its default values (adiabatic constant 1.4 and molecular mass 28.95) are given for dry air.

For a monoatomic ideal gas, adiabatic constant is 5/3, and for a diatomic gas (such as nitrogen and oxygen) adiabatic constant is 7/5. For molecules with three atoms it is 4/3.

For helium, with adiabatic constant 5/3 and molecular mass 4 g/mol, speed of sound at 20C is 1007 m/s. That's why voice in helium sounds so funny.

Sound Speed in Gases

Digits after the decimal point: 2
Speed of sound, m/s

PLANETCALC, Sound Speed in Gases