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Solid · Speed of sound

Speed of sound in pine (along the grain)

Sound travels through pine (along the grain) at about 3,300 metres per second (11,880 km/h, 7,382 mph) – 9.6 times faster than in air. Conditions: dry wood, along the grain.

3,300 m/sSpeed of sound
11,880 km/hKilometres per hour
9.62×Compared with air
0.303 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 pine (along the grain) takes 30.3 ms; over a mile, 488 ms. At concert pitch A4 (440 Hz) the wavelength is 7.50 m, and at 1 kHz it is 3.30 m.

Acoustic impedance

Acoustic impedance (density × speed) is about 1,650,000 rayl (1.65 MRayl). Because it is so different from air's ~413 rayl, about 99.90% of sound energy is reflected at an air–pine (along the grain) 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 pine (along the grain)?

About 3,300 m/s (dry wood, along the grain).

How long does sound take to travel 1 km through pine (along the grain)?

About 0.303 seconds.

Is sound faster in pine (along the grain) than in air?

Yes – 3,300 m/s versus 343 m/s in air at 20 °C.