The speed of sound in a gas depends on its temperature and density. For a specific gas at a constant pressure, the relationship between the speed of sound, vvv, and the gas density, ρ\rhoρ, is given by the formula:
v=Cρ v = \frac{C}{\sqrt{\rho}} v=ρCwhere C C\,C is a constant.
The table below shows the physical properties of Xenon gas at two different temperatures:
| Temperature | Speed of sound, vvv (in m/s) | Density of Xenon, ρ\rhoρ (in kg/m3^33) |
|---|---|---|
| At 20∘C20^\circ\text{C}20∘C | 178 | 5.46 |
| At 180∘C180^\circ\text{C}180∘C | 3.53 |
Use the equation and the data in the table to calculate the speed of sound in Xenon gas at 180∘C180^\circ\text{C}180∘C.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
35 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 4.3 Sound, ultrasound and infrasound (physics only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.