Sound travels through steel at about $5000\text{ m/s}$, through water at $1500\text{ m/s}$, and through air…

Sound travels through steel at about $5000\text{ m/s}$, through water at $1500\text{ m/s}$, and through air at $330\text{ m/s}$. What conclusion can be drawn from this data?
  1. Speed of sound is maximum in gases because molecules move freely
  2. Speed of sound is maximum in solids because particles are closely packed
  3. Speed of sound is independent of the state of the medium
  4. Speed of sound is minimum in dense materials

Solution

Denser media with closely packed particles (solids) transmit mechanical vibrations faster than liquids or gases.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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