Speed of Sound Calculator
Speed of sound in air at a given temperature, the travel time over a distance and the echo rule.
Results
Speed of sound
343.420
m/s
Speed of sound
1236.31
km/h
Time
0.2912
s
Distance
515.1
m
What this tool does
Sound travels faster in warm air, gaining about 0.6 m/s for every degree. The last result is how far away lightning struck if the thunder arrives three seconds later — a little over half a kilometre.
Formula
v ≈ 331.3 + 0.606 × T (dry air, T in °C)
Variables
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
t | Temperature | °C |
d | Distance | m |
V | Speed of sound | m/s |
K | Speed of sound | km/h |
T | Time | s |
E | Distance | m |
Worked example
- Temperature20 °C
- Distance100 m
- Speed of sound343.420 m/s
- Speed of sound1236.31 km/h
- Time0.2912 s
- Distance515.1 m
Limitations
- The result is an estimate based only on the values you type. Real situations often include factors this calculator does not know about.
- The formula assumes ideal conditions: no friction losses, no air resistance and no efficiency losses unless you enter them.