The Velocity of Sound in Gases

Abstract

The velocity of sound in gases confined in a tube has been measured at a frequency of 1000 cycles per second using a method based upon acoustical feedback. Measurements of the velocity were made at pressures ranging from atmospheric down to several millimetres of mercury, for the following gases : air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane. The values obtained for the velocity at atmospheric pressure agree very well with established figures, but the corrected velocity was found to vary with the pressure. The general validity of this tube correction 1s discussed.