Volume 21: Pages 68-69, 2008
Momentum of sound waves
Kern E. Kenyon 1
14632 North Lane, Del Mar, California 92014-4134, USA
Maxwell’s equations predicted that the linear momentum of light waves equals the energy divided by the wave phase speed in free space. Then almost 40 years ago it was determined that the linear momentum of surface gravity waves equals the total energy divided by the phase speed of these waves. Consistent with the earlier results we show here that the ratio of the momentum to the energy of sound waves equals one divided by the wave phase speed. Assumptions are one dimensional compressible flow, plane waves of infinitesimal amplitude, and no viscosity.
Keywords: Sound Wave Momentum
Received: August 25, 2007; Accepted: May 20, 2008; Published Online: December 15, 2008
