Why does sound travel slower in cold air?
Solution 21E Generally the speed of sound is greater in hot air than it is in cold air.because the molecules of air moving faster and vibrations of sound wave,therefore be transmitted faster.it means sound waves travel from hot air to cold air or from cold air to hot air will refract. Or The speed of sound is inversely proportional to square root of the density of the medium and directly proportional to square root of the stiffness of the medium. C = sqrt(K/p) Where c = speed of sound k = stiffness p = density of medium In warm air,the density of molecules is lower hence speed increases.in cold air,the density of molecule is higher and speed decreases.