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Question

In which of the three media, air, water or iron, does sound travel the fastest at a particular temperature?


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Solution

Speed of sound

  1. The elasticity of the medium determines the speed of sound.
  2. It travels the fastest in solids because solids have the maximum elasticity.
  3. Elasticity is lower in liquids and higher in gases, hence their speed reduces in liquids and increases in gases.
  4. As a result, sound travels the fastest through solid at a given temperature.

Sound waves

  1. In seawater, sound travels at a speed of around 1500 meters per second. In the air, sound travels at a much slower rate of roughly 340 meters per second.
  2. Sound waves move quicker in denser materials because neighboring particles collide more frequently.
  3. The speed of sound waves in air is 343.2m/s, the speed of sound waves in water is 1480m/s, the speed of sound waves in iron is 3240m/s/

Hence, sound travels the fastest through iron at a given temperature.


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