Aviation & Aeronautics
Intermediate

Speed of Sound

Local speed of sound (kt) as a function of absolute air temperature (Kelvin).

Formula

a=38.94Ta = 38.94\sqrt{T}

Variables

aSpeed of sound (kt)
TTemperature (K)

Example

At 288 K (15°C): a ≈ 661 kt

Did You Know?

The speed of sound depends only on air temperature, not pressure — it's slower in the frigid stratosphere.

speed of soundmachatmosphere