Relationship between speed of sound and density

[soandos]

is there a relationship between the speed of sound and the density or the young modulus of the substance?
if so what is it?
thanks

 

[russ_watters]

Yes, both! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound#General_Formula

It is easiest to see in a solid object: the young's modulus determines the force applied by a compression wave of a certain amplitude. The density determines what acceleration particles of the object get when that force is applied. It's a collection of spring-mass systems.

 

[astrokreng]

There is indeed a relationship between the speed of sound and the density of a substance. This relationship is described by the equation v = √(E/ρ), where v is the speed of sound, E is the Young's modulus, and ρ is the density of the substance. This equation is known as the Newton-Laplace equation and it shows that the speed of sound is directly proportional to the square root of the Young's modulus and inversely proportional to the square root of the density. In other words, as the density of a substance increases, the speed of sound decreases, and as the Young's modulus increases, the speed of sound increases. This relationship is important in understanding the propagation of sound waves in different materials and is used in various applications, such as in the design of musical instruments and in non-destructive testing methods.