Question

In the desert air, sound travels at 358 meters per second (m/s). In the polar air, sound travels at 330 meters per

second (m/s). What can you conclude from this information?
A - The speed of sound is constant.
B - Sound waves travel fastest in a vacuum.
C-The temperature of the air affects the speed of sound.
D-Sound waves travel at the same speed everywhere on Earth.
Please provide your answer below using CER
1. Claim: What is your choice for the correct answer?
2. Evidence: What evidence did you observe from the test-like question that made you decide on your answer?
3. Reasoning: Provide an elaboration on your evidence, possible prior knowledge about your claim.

Answer 1

The correct option is;

C. The temperature of the air affects the speed of sound

Step-by-step explanation:

The information given are;

The speed with which sound travels in the desert air = 358 m/s

The speed with which sound travels in the polar air = 330 m/s

The major difference between the desert air and the polar air is that the temperature of the desert air is hotter than the temperature of the air in the polar region. Therefore the speed of sound is affected by the air temperature.

The equation that gives the relationship of the speed of sound in air,
`v_(air)`, to temperature is presented as follows;

`v_(air) = 331(m)/(s) * \sqrt{(T_K)/(273 K) } = 331(m)/(s) * \sqrt{1 + (T_(^(\circ)C))/(273 ^(\circ) C) }`

Which shows that the speed of sound in air,
`v_(air)`, rises as the temperature of the air rises.

Where;

`T_(^(\circ)C)` = The temperature of the air in degrees Celsius

`T_K` = The temperature of the air in degrees Kelvin.