Question

Which student is correct and why?

Student 1 , because mechanical waves transmit energy faster through a more rigid medium.
Student 2 , because when mechanical waves travel through a liquid, it is less rigid than a solid so the energy can be transmitted faster.
Student 2, because when mechanical waves travel through a liquid, the molecules are farther apart, creating less resistance, so they travel faster.
Student 1 , because mechanical waves transmit energy faster when there are more molecules.

Answer 1

Student 1 is correct because mechanical waves, such as sound waves, travel more quickly through rigid mediums like solids rather than through less rigid mediums like liquids, due to the closer proximity of particles in rigid substances.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct student is Student 1 because mechanical waves transmit energy faster through a more rigid medium. When comparing liquids and solids, mechanical waves typically move faster in solids due to their increased rigidity. The rigidity of a medium allows for sound energy to be transferred more efficiently from particle to particle. This is because in a rigid medium, such as a solid, particles are packed closely together and can transfer the wave energy more quickly. Conversely, in less rigid mediums like liquids or gases, particles are spaced further apart and the wave's energy has to travel further to be transmitted between particles, thus generally traveling at a slower speed.