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Speed of sound and density

Discussion in 'MCAT Study Question Q&A' started by brood910, 01.12.14.

  1. brood910

    brood910 2+ Year Member

    According to TBR, sound travels faster in a denser medium.
    But, they also say that sound travels faster in warmer water/air (less dense).

    Why are they contradicting themselves again?

    Do I have to use V = sqrt1/density formula only for comparing SAME medium with diff temperatures while using "sound travels faster in denser medium" for comparing DIFF media?
    Last edited: 01.12.14
  3. dumbmcattaker


    Speed of sound is INVERSELY proportion to the square root of medium's density. Therefore, should would travel slowly in dense medium. Speed of sound is DIRECTLY proportion to the elasticity of a medium. I haven't read TBR, so I am not sure about their content. But yes, the second statement "sound travels faster in warmer water/air" is correct because in that case, density is lower.

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