RE: speed of sound

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From: Eric Muller (emuller@mercury.exploratorium.edu)
Date: Fri Apr 09 2004 - 11:31:10 PDT 

Message-Id: <a05100301bc9c9c26748e@[192.168.112.86]>
Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 11:31:10 -0700
From: Eric Muller <emuller@mercury.exploratorium.edu>
Subject: RE: speed of sound

Hi Sherry,
Sound is caused by molecules bumping into the next molecule, which
bumps into the next etc.
In a solid, molecules are right next to each other so they can easily
"bump" into the next bunch of moleculesŠ. and the stiffer the solid,
the better.
In a gas, molecules are really spread out. For sound to propagate in
a gas, molecules have to travel a fair distance to bump into the next
molecule. As gas is heated, the speed at which gas molecules travel
goes up (more kinetic energy). So the warmer the air, the faster the
speed of sound. 

-- 
Eric Muller
Exploratorium Teacher Institute
Science Educator
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123

415-561-0386
emuller@exploratorium.edu

www.doscience.com

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