In a laboratory

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics

Problem

In a laboratory, the measured speed of sound in air at

25^{\circ}\text{C}

340\,\text{m\,s}^{-1}

. The air has density

1.20\,\text{kg\,m}^{-3}

and is at a pressure of

1.013\times10^{5}\,\text{Pa}

. Using these data: 1. Determine the value of

\gamma

for air. 2. Calculate the percentage error in Newton’s prediction compared with the measured speed. The percentage error (to two significant figures) is (a)

17.0\%

(b)

14.6\%

(c)

3.0\%

(d)

10.9\%

Related theory

Sound Wave Characteristics
Kinetic Theory of Gases
Kinetic theory of pressure
Kinetic theory of an ideal gas
Kinetic Theory

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