Speed of sound via bulk modulus and density¶

Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves that can travel through any type of material, be it solid, liquid, or gas. The phase velocity of the a sound wave depends on the bulk modulus of the medium it is traveling in and its density.

Links:

Wikipedia.

phase_velocity¶: phase_speed of sound wave.

Symbol:: v
Latex:: \(v\)
Dimension:: velocity

bulk_modulus¶: bulk_modulus of the medium. Also see Bulk stress is bulk modulus times strain.

Symbol:: K
Latex:: \(K\)
Dimension:: pressure

density¶: density of the medium.

Symbol:: rho
Latex:: \(\rho\)
Dimension:: mass/volume

law¶

v = sqrt(K / rho)

Latex:: \[v = \sqrt{\frac{K}{\rho}}\]