Question
The speed of sound in different media at increasing temperatures is shown in the data table below.
Speed of Sound in Different Media at Increasing Temperatures
Temperature (°C) 0 10 20 30
Speed of sound in freshwater (m/s) 1,403 1,447 1,481 1,507
Speed of sound in seawater (m/s) 1,449 1,490 1,522 1,546
Speed of sound in air (m/s) 331 337 343 355
Why does sound travel the slowest in air?
(1 point)
Responses
The wind blocks the sound waves and carries them in all directions.
The wind blocks the sound waves and carries them in all directions.
The temperature of air varies more than the temperature of water.
The temperature of air varies more than the temperature of water.
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.
The kinetic energy of the molecules of air is too low to transport sound waves.
Speed of Sound in Different Media at Increasing Temperatures
Temperature (°C) 0 10 20 30
Speed of sound in freshwater (m/s) 1,403 1,447 1,481 1,507
Speed of sound in seawater (m/s) 1,449 1,490 1,522 1,546
Speed of sound in air (m/s) 331 337 343 355
Why does sound travel the slowest in air?
(1 point)
Responses
The wind blocks the sound waves and carries them in all directions.
The wind blocks the sound waves and carries them in all directions.
The temperature of air varies more than the temperature of water.
The temperature of air varies more than the temperature of water.
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.
The kinetic energy of the molecules of air is too low to transport sound waves.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct response is:
**The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.**
Sound travels slower in air than in water because the molecules in air are further apart compared to those in water. This greater distance means that sound waves, which rely on the vibrations and interactions between molecules to propagate, face more challenges in transferring energy from one molecule to another in air, resulting in a slower speed of sound.
**The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.**
Sound travels slower in air than in water because the molecules in air are further apart compared to those in water. This greater distance means that sound waves, which rely on the vibrations and interactions between molecules to propagate, face more challenges in transferring energy from one molecule to another in air, resulting in a slower speed of sound.