Explore the internet resources to explore the effect of humidity and temperature on the speed of sound.
The speed of sound in air depends on the temperature and humidity of the medium. As we increase the temperature or humidity, the speed of sound increases.
Regarding temperature, an increase in temperature causes the speed of sound to increase. For example, the speed of sound in dry air is about 331 m s⁻¹ at 0 °C and rises to nearly 344 m s⁻¹ at 22 °C.
Similarly, an increase in humidity also leads to an increase in the speed of sound. Thus, warm and humid air allows sound to travel faster than cold and dry air.
Explanation
The textbook context explicitly states that the speed of sound in air depends on both temperature and humidity. It highlights that an increase in either factor causes the speed of sound to increase. To illustrate the effect of temperature, the text provides specific values: 331 m s⁻¹ at 0 °C and 344 m s⁻¹ at 22 °C for dry air.