Unit 2 lesson 5

Where do sound waves travel faster? (1 point)

Through solids.

Well, sound waves certainly can't outrun Usain Bolt, but they do have their preferences. Sound waves tend to travel faster in denser mediums, like solids. So if you're looking for a speedy sound show, try hitting a hammer on a metal plate instead of slapping a pillow. Just make sure to warn your neighbors first!

Sound waves travel faster through solids than they do through liquids or gases. This is due to the fact that the particles in solids are closer together and can transmit sound energy more efficiently.

To determine where sound waves travel faster, we need to understand the concept of the speed of sound and how it is affected by various factors. The speed of sound is the rate at which sound travels through a medium. It depends on the properties of the medium, such as its density, elasticity, and temperature.

Typically, sound waves travel faster in solids compared to liquids or gases. This is because solids have a higher density and greater elasticity, which allows the sound waves to propagate more quickly through the medium. In liquids, the speed of sound is generally slower than in solids, due to their lower density and elasticity. Gases generally have the slowest speed of sound, as they have lower density and are less elastic.

Therefore, in general, sound waves travel faster in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases.