Final answer:
Sound travels fastest in solids due to their particles being closely packed and less compressible, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases where particles are more spread out and the medium is more compressible.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sound waves have varying velocities depending on the medium they travel through. The speed of sound is contingent upon factors such as the medium's density and its ability to transmit vibrations. According to the properties of sound, it travels fastest through mediums that are less compressible and have particles closely packed together. As such, sound travels fastest in solids, relatively slower in liquids, and slowest in gases. This is why sound waves can travel at higher speeds through materials like steel or water than through air. Solids like steel transmit sound quickly because they are more rigid and their particles are tightly bound, allowing the energy to be transferred efficiently from particle to particle. On the other hand, gases are more compressible and their particles are more spread out, which makes the transfer of sound energy less efficient.