Fundamentals of SHS Practice Test 2026 - Free SHS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The speed of sound in air at typical room conditions is about 1100 feet per second. In metric units, it’s about 343 meters per second, which converts to roughly 1125 feet per second. That makes 1130 feet per second a common, rounded figure used for practical purposes. The speed depends on the medium and its temperature, and in air it increases with temperature because the air molecules move faster and transmit pressure changes more quickly.

So 1130 feet per second is the best match for sound traveling through air under ordinary conditions. The other numbers don’t fit: one is in different units (meters per second), another is far too slow for air, and the last is only a rough overestimate.