Question

If equal volumes of helium and argon are mixed, what is the expected ratio of the speed of sound through helium to the speed of sound through the mixture under the same conditions?

a) Greater than 1
b) Equal to 1
c) Less than 1
d) It cannot be determined with the information given.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Option A. The expected ratio of the speed of sound through helium to the speed of sound through the mixture is greater than 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expected ratio of the speed of sound through helium to the speed of sound through the mixture is greater than 1 (option a).

To understand why, we need to consider the properties of helium and argon. The speed of sound in a gas depends on its density and compressibility. Helium is less dense and more compressible than argon. When helium and argon are mixed in equal volumes, the resulting mixture will be less dense and more compressible compared to argon alone. This means that the speed of sound in the mixture will be faster than the speed of sound in argon.

Therefore, the expected ratio of the speed of sound through helium to the speed of sound through the mixture will be greater than 1.