where do sound waves travel faster?

Question

through denser materials, because the molecules in a tightly packed medium collide less frequently

through denser materials, because the molecules in a tightly packed medium collide more frequently

through less dense materials, because the molecules in a loosely packed medium collide less frequently

through less dense materials, because the molecules in a loosely packed medium collide more frequently

Answer 1

Sound waves travel faster through denser materials, primarily because the molecules are more closely packed, allowing them to transmit the energy of the sound wave more efficiently. The correct statement would be:

Through denser materials, because the molecules in a tightly packed medium collide more frequently.

In denser materials, while the molecules are close together, they can transfer the vibrational energy of the sound wave more quickly due to the increased frequency of collisions.