Question

If you wanted to get a message to a friend as quickly as possible, it would be best to transmit your sound waves through a tube full of _______.

A) air
B) metal
C) water
a) A
b) B
c) C

Answer 1

Speed of sound in air at sea level: 340 meters per second

Speed of sound in Helium: . . . . . . . 965 m/s

Speed of sound in water: . . . . . . . 1,500 m/s

Speed of sound in ethyl Alcohol: 1,207 m/s

Speed of sound in Copper: . . . . . 6,420 m/s

Speed of sound in Beryllium: . . . 12,890 m/s

Speed of sound in Aluminum: . . 6,420 m/s

Speed of sound in Steel: . . . . . . 5,940 m/s

Speed of sound in Gold: . . . . . . 3,240 m/s

Speed of sound in Lead: . . . . . . 1,210 m/s

Speed of sound in glass: . . . . . 4,540 m/s

Do you see the pattern ?

==> Slowest in gases.

==> Faster in liquids.

==> Fastest in solids.

The correct answer is b) B. metal (if it isn't melted).

Answer 2

B) metal

Step-by-step explanation:

To address the question of the fastest medium for transmitting sound waves, we must consider the properties of different materials in terms of sound propagation. Sound waves travel through different mediums at varying speeds, depending on the medium's density and elasticity. Lets take a look at each option:

• A) Air: Sound travels through air, but it's not the fastest medium. Air, being a gas, is less dense compared to liquids and solids, which means sound waves travel through it more slowly.

• B) Metal: Metals are generally excellent conductors of sound. Due to their dense and tightly packed atomic structure, they allow sound waves to travel much faster compared to air. This is because the particles in a solid medium like metal are closer together, facilitating quicker vibration transfer.

• C) Water: Water, being a liquid, is denser than air but less dense than most metals. Sound waves travel faster in water than in air, but not as fast as in most metals.

From worst to best, here is the order of the best medium to transmit the sound wave:

Air < Water < Metal

Thus, (B) is correct.