• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.253-259
• /
• 2012

Goldingham's measurement of the velocity of sound undertaken in the early nineteenth century was the first large-scale measuring enterprise which considered various meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, the direction of the wind, etc. Goldingham's successful performance of measuring the velocity of sound by employing the sounds of cannons as sound source in Madras (now Chennai), a colonial region of India, for one and a half years was supported by material, institutional and social resources. As the official astronomer at the Madras Observatory, he was benefitted by the undemanding employment of accurate measuring instruments under the support of the Madras Army enabled him to gain reliable data and his reputation as professional experimentalist facilitated the acknowledgment of their trustworthiness.