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Air Traffic Monitoring => Listener Forum => Topic started by: iflyhi on June 10, 2009, 11:06:57 AM

Title: sound barrier / speed of sound
Post by: iflyhi on June 10, 2009, 11:06:57 AM

can someone advise ?  i believe speed of sound at sea level is approx 720 ft /sec    what would it be at 30,000 feet ?   and/or  what are they in terms of  miles per hour ? 

Title: Re: sound barrier / speed of sound
Post by: sykocus on June 10, 2009, 11:40:22 AM

The speed of sound changes based on the density of air. Which is related to the temperature of air. Which is related to the altitude. So there isn't a constant speed of sound at any given altitude. That being said there is "estimated" temperature model for a given altitude which can be used to guesstimate mach at a certain altitude.

Here's a website which can help you calculate it.

http://www.digitaldutch.com/atmoscalc/calculator.htm

Title: Re: sound barrier / speed of sound
Post by: iflyhi on June 11, 2009, 10:29:42 AM

thank you