Speed of Sound

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Speed of Sound s</sub>)</strong> </dt>
The speed of propagation of sound waves. In the atmosphere

c_s = [γ (R*/M₀)T_M]^1/2 where γ

is the ratio of specific heat of air at constant pressure to that a constant volume, R* is the universal gas constant, M₀ is the mean molecular weight of air at sea level, and T_M is the molecular scale temperature. </dd>
At sea level in the standard atmosphere, the speed of sound is 340.294 meters per second (1116.45 feet per second). The concept of the speed of sound in the atmosphere loses its applicability at about 90 kilometers where the mean of free path of air molecules approaches the wavelengths of sound waves. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use