As the sound TRAVELS faster in liquids than gas so why the speed of sound is higher in hydrogen (gas) than methanol (liquid)....???
Speed of sound in hydrogen- 1284m/s
Speed of sound in methanol- 1103m/s
Speed of sound in hydrogen- 1284m/s
Speed of sound in methanol- 1103m/s
Add an Answer
More Questions From This User See All
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Speed of sound in any medium depends on the Bulk modulus (reciprocal of compressibility) and density. Normally sound travels faster in liquids than in gases as they are more elastic. However, we need to take effects of both the elastic property and density together. In some cases sound travels faster in gases like H2 than in some liquids like Methyl Alcohol. It is the ratio that matters.Speed of sound in a medium = v
v =
For Methanol (liquid) or Methyl Alcohol CH3 OH:
Bulk modulus at 20°C as : B = 823 * 10⁶ Pa
Density = ρ = 0.792 gm/cc or 792 kg/m³
So the speed of sound v ≈ 1, 103 m/s (around)
For Hydrogen gas H₂ speed of sound:
R = Universal Gas constant = 8.314 J/K/mol
T = Absolute Temperature
M = Molar mass in kg/mole = 0.002 kg/mol
B = 1.4 * 10⁵ Pa
T = 293 °C
IF we use these values we get v = around 1284 m/sec.
As far as distance travelled --- again, solids and liquids win. However, there's an additional factor called 'damping' that depends on the elasticity of the medium the sounds waves are travelling through, also scattering. It ends up that lower-frequency sound waves can travel much longer distances than high frequency sounds....this is how whales can communicate over long distances in the ocean--and how elephants do the same in air. Both do their 'long distance' calling with low frequencies