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, covering 4.3.1 Sound waves, vibrations and the human ear, 4.3.2 Ultrasound and infrasound, 4.3.3 Uses of ultrasound and infrasound, and 4.3.4 Sound waves passing between media. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.