Question

In science, sound is defined as the transfer of energy from a vibrating object in waves that travel through matter. The matter (air, water, solids) is the medium through which sound travels. Sound cannot travel through empty space. Make a prediction - in which medium do you think sound will travel mostly quickly? Why?

A) Air, because it is a gas and allows for faster wave transmission.

B) Solids, because particles are closely packed, facilitating faster energy transfer.

C) Water, because it is denser than air, enabling faster sound propagation.

D) All mediums will have the same speed of sound.

Answer 1

Sound travels fastest in solids due to their high density and rigidity, which facilitates the efficient transfer of energy between tightly packed particles. Liquids like water are more efficient than gases like air, but still less efficient than solids.

Step-by-step explanation:

In predicting which medium sound will travel through most quickly, we must consider both the density and the rigidity of the medium. The speed of sound depends on how tightly the particles are packed and how difficult it is to compress the medium. Based on these principles, sound travels fastest in solids because particles are more tightly packed than in liquids or gases, making energy transfer more efficient. This is due to the higher density and rigidity of solids as compared to liquids and gases.

On the other end, gases are compressible and less dense, which is why the speed of sound in air is relatively low. While water is denser than air and thus makes sound travel faster in water than in air, it is still not as efficient as in solids. To summarize, out of the given options, solids enable the fastest propagation of sound waves.