Condition:
The compressibility of mercury, water, and air is equal to $3 \cdot 10^{-5}$ , $5 \cdot 10^{-5}$ , and $0.71\,\mathrm{atm}^{-1}$ , respectively, and their density is $13.6 \cdot 10^3$ , $1 \cdot 10^3$ , and $1.2\,\mathrm{kg/m}^3$ , respectively. Determine the speed of sound in these media.
Given:$$\beta_{\mathrm{Hg}}=3\cdot10^{-5}\,\mathrm{atm}^{-1},\qquad \rho_{\mathrm{Hg}}=13.6\cdot10^3\,\mathrm{kg/m^3}$$ $$\beta_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=5\cdot10^{-5}\,\mathrm{atm}^{-1},\qquad \rho_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=1.0\cdot10^3\,\mathrm{kg/m^3}$$ $$\beta_{\text{air}}=0.71\,\mathrm{atm}^{-1},\qquad \rho_{\text{air}}=1.2\,\mathrm{kg/m^3}$$
Main formula:$$v=\sqrt{\frac{1}{\beta\rho}}$$ where $\beta$ is the compressibility of the medium, and $\rho$ is the density of the medium.
We convert the compressibility from $\mathrm{atm}^{-1}$ to $\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}$ :$$1\,\mathrm{atm}=101325\,\mathrm{Pa} \implies 1\,\mathrm{atm}^{-1}=\frac{1}{101325}\,\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}$$
Mercury
$$\beta_{\mathrm{Hg}}=\frac{3\cdot10^{-5}}{101325} \approx 2.96\cdot10^{-10}\,\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}$$
We use the formula:$$v_{\mathrm{Hg}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{\beta_{\mathrm{Hg}}\rho_{\mathrm{Hg}}}}$$
Substituting the values:$$v_{\mathrm{Hg}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{(2.96\cdot10^{-10})(13.6\cdot10^3)}}$$
We calculate the denominator:$$(2.96\cdot10^{-10})(13.6\cdot10^3) \approx 4.0256\cdot10^{-6}$$
Therefore:$$v_{\mathrm{Hg}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{4.0256\cdot10^{-6}}} \approx 498\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Answer for mercury:$$v_{\mathrm{Hg}}\approx 500\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Water ($\mathrm{H_2O}$ )
$$\beta_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=\frac{5\cdot10^{-5}}{101325} \approx 4.93\cdot10^{-10}\,\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}$$
We use the formula:$$v_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{\beta_{\mathrm{H_2O}}\rho_{\mathrm{H_2O}}}}$$
Substituting the values:$$v_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{(4.93\cdot10^{-10})(1.0\cdot10^3)}}$$
We calculate the denominator:$$(4.93\cdot10^{-10})(1.0\cdot10^3) = 4.93\cdot10^{-7}$$
Therefore:$$v_{\mathrm{H_2O}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{4.93\cdot10^{-7}}} \approx 1424\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Answer for water:$$v_{\mathrm{H_2O}}\approx 1420\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Air
$$\beta_{\text{air}}=\frac{0.71}{101325} \approx 7.01\cdot10^{-6}\,\mathrm{Pa}^{-1}$$
We use the formula:$$v_{\text{air}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{\beta_{\text{air}}\rho_{\text{air}}}}$$
Substituting the values:$$v_{\text{air}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{(7.01\cdot10^{-6})(1.2)}}$$
We calculate the denominator:$$(7.01\cdot10^{-6})(1.2) = 8.412\cdot10^{-6}$$
Therefore:$$v_{\text{air}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{8.412\cdot10^{-6}}} \approx 345\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Answer for air:$$v_{\text{air}}\approx 345\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Answer:$$v_{\mathrm{Hg}}\approx500\,\mathrm{m/s},\qquad v_{\mathrm{H_2O}}\approx1420\,\mathrm{m/s},\qquad v_{\text{air}}\approx345\,\mathrm{m/s}$$
Answer
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