Question

If you started the motor of a boat in the middle of a lake, who

would detect the sound of the motor first: a friend sitting on the
shore of the lake or a friend snorkeling just below the surface
of the water at the same distance from the boat? Explain your
answer.

Answer 1

Answer: friend snorkeling just below the surface of the water

Step-by-step explanation:

Sound travel faster in a denser medium than a less dense medium.

Since water is denser than air, sound will propagate faster in water than air. Therefore, a friend snorkeling just below the surface of the water would detect the sound of the motor first before a friend sitting on the shore of the lake at the same distance from the boat.