WATER AS A STANDARD IN THE MEASUREMENTS OF SPEED OF SOUND IN LIQUIDS

The speeds of sound in water measured by Del Grosso and Mader [J. Acou st. Sec. Am. 52, 1442-1446 (1972)], Kroebel and Mahrt [Acustica 35, 15 4-164 (1976)], and Fujii and Masui [J. Acoust. Sec. Am. 93, 276-282 (1 993)] were compared. A fairly good agreement was found. A new fifth-or der polynomial describing the dependence of the speed of sound in wate r on temperature (ITS-90) within the limits 0-95 degrees C was propose d. The importance of the effect of impurities of water on the systemat ic errors of the measurement results was pointed out. The accuracy of the relative measurements of speed of sound in liquids was discussed i n the context of the proper choice of a standard (''true'') value of t he speed in water. (C) 1997 Acoustical Society of America.