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Solid · Speed of sound

Speed of sound in stainless steel

Sound travels through stainless steel at 5,790 metres per second (20,844 km/h, 12,952 mph) – 16.9 times faster than in air. Conditions: bulk.

5,790 m/sSpeed of sound
20,844 km/hKilometres per hour
16.88×Compared with air
0.173 sTime to travel 1 km

Why sound moves at this speed

Solids are very stiff, so sound usually travels fastest through them. Speed rises with stiffness (elastic modulus) and falls with density.

Travel times and wavelengths

Over 100 m, sound in stainless steel takes 17.3 ms; over a mile, 278 ms. At concert pitch A4 (440 Hz) the wavelength is 13.16 m, and at 1 kHz it is 5.79 m.

Acoustic impedance

Acoustic impedance (density × speed) is about 46,320,000 rayl (46.3 MRayl). Because it is so different from air's ~413 rayl, about 100.00% of sound energy is reflected at an air–stainless steel boundary – which is why airborne sound hardly enters water or walls, and why ultrasound scans need gel.

Speed of sound in other materials

MaterialSpeedvs. air
Carbon dioxide267 m/s0.78×
Argon323 m/s0.94×
Oxygen326 m/s0.95×
Air at 0 °C331 m/s0.97×
Air343 m/s1.00×
Nitrogen349 m/s1.02×
Methane446 m/s1.30×
Cork500 m/s1.46×
Helium1,007 m/s2.94×
Ethanol1,162 m/s3.39×
Hydrogen1,310 m/s3.82×
Olive oil1,430 m/s4.17×
Mercury1,450 m/s4.23×
Fat tissue1,450 m/s4.23×
Fresh water1,481 m/s4.32×
Seawater1,500 m/s4.37×
Soft tissue (average)1,540 m/s4.49×
Blood1,570 m/s4.58×
Muscle1,580 m/s4.61×
Glycerol1,904 m/s5.55×
Lead2,160 m/s6.30×
Polystyrene2,350 m/s6.85×
Nylon2,600 m/s7.58×
Acrylic (PMMA)2,730 m/s7.96×
Gold3,240 m/s9.45×
Pine (along the grain)3,300 m/s9.62×
Tin3,320 m/s9.68×
Concrete3,600 m/s10.50×
Silver3,650 m/s10.64×
Oak (along the grain)3,850 m/s11.22×
Ice3,880 m/s11.31×
Bone (cortical)4,080 m/s11.90×
Zinc4,210 m/s12.27×
Brass4,400 m/s12.83×
Copper4,760 m/s13.88×
Tungsten5,220 m/s15.22×
Nickel5,600 m/s16.33×
Glass (Pyrex)5,640 m/s16.44×
Stainless steel5,790 m/s16.88×
Steel5,960 m/s17.38×
Granite6,000 m/s17.49×
Titanium6,070 m/s17.70×
Aluminium6,320 m/s18.43×
Diamond12,000 m/s34.99×
Beryllium12,890 m/s37.58×

Typical longitudinal (bulk) sound speeds at about 20 °C unless stated. Real values vary with composition, temperature, pressure and wave type; thin rods carry slower 'bar' waves.

Frequently asked questions

What is the speed of sound in stainless steel?

5,790 m/s (bulk).

How long does sound take to travel 1 km through stainless steel?

About 0.173 seconds.

Is sound faster in stainless steel than in air?

Yes – 5,790 m/s versus 343 m/s in air at 20 °C.