Question

Sound travels the fastest in which of the following mediums?

• A. Water
• B. Steel
• C. Air
• D. Kerosene oil

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Steel

Speed of sound

1. Sound is the vibration of particles in a transmission medium such as gas, solid, or liquid.
2. Sound waves are longitudinal waves meaning that the particles are displaced parallel to the direction of the wave.
3. Since sound is a vibration, the denser the particles of the medium, the faster the vibration is transferred, thus faster the speed of sound.
4. Since solids are the densest of the states of matter, sound travels the fastest in solids.
5. Among the given options, steel is the densest substance. Thus, sound travels fastest in steel.

Hence, option B is correct.