Question

The density of mercury is 13,600 kg/m3 . What is the speed of sound in mercury at 20°C?

Short answer

The speed of sound in mercury at$20°C$is$1448m/s$.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

The density of mercury is $\rho =13,600kg/m^3$

Temperature$T=20°C$

Speed of sound in mercury

Bulk modulus of mercury at $20°C$is $B=2.85\times {10}^{10}Pa$.

The speed of sound in mercury at the given temperature is

$$\begin{gathered} v_{sound}=\sqrt{\frac{B}{\rho }} \\ =\sqrt{\frac{2.85\times {10}^{10}}{13,600}} \\ \approx 1448m/s \end{gathered}$$

Therefore, the speed of sound in mercury at$20°C$is$1448m/s$.