Does the ambient temperature affect the speed of sound, and if yes how and if no why?

Question

Does the ambient temperature affect the speed of sound, and if yes how and if no why?

Answer 1

Yes.  Sound is transmitted by vibrating the air molecules.  When the temperature changes, the density of the air (how close the molecules are) changes.  Humitity would also have an effect for the same reasons.

I usually don't post links, but this one explains it better than I could here.

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-...

Answer 2

sound energy is mechanical energy so yes room temperature does affect the  speed of sound

Answer 3

Insofar as the temperature affects the density of the substance through which the sound is passing, yes.

Sound will move faster through water than through air, for instance.

If the air is colder, it will be somewhat more dense, enabling faster speed.  If the air is warmer, it will be less dense, so sound would travel slower.

This being said, the practical impact is just about nil.  If you're shouting into a canyon, you'll hear the echo at close enough to the same time regardless of temperature that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

On the other hand, it would make for an interesting thought experiment - using echo to measure temperature.