The curve that represents the speed of sound in a gas plotted against the kelvin temperature is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Question

The curve that represents the speed of sound in a gas plotted against the kelvin temperature is 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best choice is B as it is well known that the speed of sound in a gas is directly proportional to the square root of the absolute temperature. This means that as the temperature of the gas increases, the speed of sound also increases. Therefore, the curve representing the relationship between the speed of sound and temperature should be a positively sloped curve starting from the origin. Since there are no negative values for speed of sound or temperature, choices A and C can be eliminated. Choice E can also be eliminated as it suggests a curve that is inversely related to temperature, which is not the case for the speed of sound. Choice D suggests a linear relationship between the speed of sound and temperature, which is not accurate as the relationship is non-linear. Therefore, the only valid choice is B, which shows a positively sloped curve.

The Curve That Represents the Speed of Sound in a Gas