Question
Based on the table and your knowledge of sound, what might be the best explanation of why sound travels faster in saltwater than fresh water?
Responses
A Less dense objects allow sound to travel faster.Less dense objects allow sound to travel faster.
B Saltwater has two compounds and fresh water only one.Saltwater has two compounds and fresh water only one.
C Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.
D Saltwater has both solid and liquid, so it will be the average of the components.
Responses
A Less dense objects allow sound to travel faster.Less dense objects allow sound to travel faster.
B Saltwater has two compounds and fresh water only one.Saltwater has two compounds and fresh water only one.
C Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.
D Saltwater has both solid and liquid, so it will be the average of the components.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best explanation of why sound travels faster in saltwater than in fresh water is:
**C. Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.**
Saltwater is denser than fresh water due to the dissolved salts, which means that the particles in saltwater are more closely packed. This increased density allows sound waves to be transmitted more efficiently, resulting in a higher speed of sound in saltwater compared to fresh water.
**C. Closer packed or more dense media will have higher speed of sound.**
Saltwater is denser than fresh water due to the dissolved salts, which means that the particles in saltwater are more closely packed. This increased density allows sound waves to be transmitted more efficiently, resulting in a higher speed of sound in saltwater compared to fresh water.