Question

Sound wave has different speeds in different mediums because

• A. the more elastic the medium, the lower the speed.
• B. the more elastic the medium, the higher the speed.
• C. the less the volume, the higher the speed.
• D. the less the density, the lower the speed.

Answer 1

The correct option is B the more elastic the medium, the higher the speed.

• The speed of sound depends on the density and elasticity of the medium.
• Sound propagates faster through metals even though they are denser than gases because metals are elastic.
• For example, steel is 6,000 times denser than air but 20,00,000 times more elastic than air. Therefore, sound travels 16 times faster in steel than in air.