Speed of Sound

The speed of sound is the rate at which acoustic waves propagate through a medium. In air at 20°C and standard atmospheric pressure, the speed of sound is approximately 343 m/s (1125 ft/s). It increases with temperature at roughly 0.6 m/s per degree Celsius. The speed of sound appears in fundamental acoustic equations including the Sabine formula (RT60 = 0.161V/A, where 0.161 = 24×ln(10)/c at 343 m/s), wavelength calculations, and room mode predictions. In building acoustics, speed of sound in solid materials (steel: ~5900 m/s, concrete: ~3400 m/s) is important for predicting coincidence frequencies and flanking transmission paths. Temperature and humidity corrections may be needed for precise measurements in non-standard conditions.