Sound Speed Water

Overview

Engineering reference data for Sound Speed Water in acoustics.

Key Formulas

Speed of Sound

$c = \sqrt{\gamma R T}$

Speed of sound in an ideal gas.

Sound Level

$L = 10 \log_{10}(I/I_0)$

Decibel level.

Wavelength

$\lambda = c / f$

Wavelength = speed / frequency.

Variables

Symbol	Description	Unit
$c$	Speed of sound	m/s
$L$	Sound level	dB
$\lambda$	Wavelength	m
$f$	Frequency	Hz

Data Tables

Water - Speed of Sound vs. Temperature (Imperial Units)

Water and Seawater - Speed of Sound vs. Temperature (SI Units)

Important Notes

Speed vs. Velocity: Speed is a scalar quantity representing the magnitude of how fast sound travels. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction.

Unit Conversion:

$$1 \text{ m/s} = 3.28 \text{ ft/s}$$

Seawater Condition: The seawater data in the table corresponds to a standard salinity of *S = 35 (equivalent to 35.17 grams per kilogram).

Interactive Charts

References

• Original Source