Sound travels through air as compression waves at a velocity of 330 meters per second. The wavelength of a sound wave is calculated by dividing the velocity by its frequency, and sound power dissipates according to the square law, decreasing exponentially with distance from the source.

1. Characteristics and Transmission
of Sound
Fig 9: Compression and rarefaction

2. Characteristics and Transmission
of Sound
Velocity of sound in air is 330 m/s or 1200 km/h
Fig 10: Breaking the sound barrier

3. Characteristics and Transmission
of Sound
= v/f
= wavelength in metres
v= velocity in metres per second (usually
330m/s)
f= frequency in Hertz
Fig 11: Wavelength

4. Characteristics and Transmission
of Sound
Fig 12: Square law dissipation of sound power