Final answer:
The speed of sound depends on the medium it travels through, with faster speeds in solids and slower in gases, due to differences in density and rigidity. The speed is not influenced by the distance to the receiver or the source's size or type.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of sound is not affected by the distance between the vibration source and the receiver, nor by the size or type of the object making the sound. Instead, the speed at which sound waves travel primarily depends on the type of medium through which the sound is traveling. Sound waves are mechanical longitudinal waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, with different speeds in each due to the media's density and rigidity. The general relationship between speed (v), frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) for waves is given by the equation v = fλ. The speed of sound tends to be faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases because particles in solids are more closely packed, allowing for more efficient transmission of vibrational energy. Conversely, the air is compressible, which makes the speed of sound in gases generally lower than in liquids and solids.