Speed of Sound (Newton-Laplace)

This Speed of Sound (Newton-Laplace) calculator computes the speed of sound through a known medium based on the density of the medium (ρ) and the elastic bulk modulus (K).

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (K)  This is the elastic bulk modulus
• (ρ)  This is the density of the material

Speed of Sound (S):  The calculator returns the speed of sound through the material in meters per second.  However, this can be automatically converted to over velocity units via the pull-down menu.

Related Calculators, Utilities and Data

• Lookup the density of hundreds of materials
• Compute the time from the distance and velocity.
• Compute the distance from the velocity and time.
• Bulk Modulus of Water is 2200 MPa
• Bulk Modulus of Air is 142 kPa
• Density of pure water is 1000 kg/m³
• Density of sea water is 1021.98 kg/m³
• Density of air is 1.28 kg/m³

The Math / Science

The speed of sound is a function of the stiffness (bulk modulus) of the medium through which it travels and the density of the medium.