In which medium is the speed of sound fastest?

In which medium is the speed of sound fastest?

• A. Gas
• B. Liquid
• C. Solid
• D. Vacuum

Answer: (C)

The speed of sound depends on how easily a medium can be compressed and how heavy the medium is. The more stiff or elastic the material relative to its density, the faster a disturbance can propagate. Solids have strong interparticle bonds and can transmit compression quickly, so they usually carry sound much faster than liquids or gases. In liquids, the bonds are weaker, and in gases the particles are far apart, slowing the transmission of the wave. A vacuum has no particles to carry the vibration at all, so sound cannot travel there. Because of this, the fastest sound speed is in a solid.

The speed of sound depends on how easily a medium can be compressed and how heavy the medium is. The more stiff or elastic the material relative to its density, the faster a disturbance can propagate. Solids have strong interparticle bonds and can transmit compression quickly, so they usually carry sound much faster than liquids or gases. In liquids, the bonds are weaker, and in gases the particles are far apart, slowing the transmission of the wave. A vacuum has no particles to carry the vibration at all, so sound cannot travel there. Because of this, the fastest sound speed is in a solid.