Question
We know that sound waves do not travel through a vacuum, but they do travel through solids, liquids, and gases. What is the relationship between the speed of sound and the medium through which the sound waves pass? Which statement is false?
Responses
A Sound waves travel fastest through solids.Sound waves travel fastest through solids.
B The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.
C As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.
D The closer the particles within the medium the faster the sound wave will propagate.
Responses
A Sound waves travel fastest through solids.Sound waves travel fastest through solids.
B The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.
C As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.
D The closer the particles within the medium the faster the sound wave will propagate.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To determine which statement is false, let's analyze each option regarding the speed of sound in different media:
A. **Sound waves travel fastest through solids.**
This statement is true. Sound waves travel fastest in solids because the particles are closer together, allowing for quicker transmission of the vibrations.
B. **The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.**
This statement is misleading and can be considered false. While denser media can sometimes lead to faster sound transmission, the relationship is not straightforward. In gases, an increase in density usually results in a decrease in sound speed, whereas in solids and liquids, other factors come into play, such as elasticity. Thus, density alone does not determine the speed of sound.
C. **As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.**
This statement is false in general. In gases, as temperature increases, the particles move faster and are also further apart, leading to increased speeds, but primarily due to kinetic energy rather than just distance between particles.
D. **The closer the particles within the medium, the faster the sound wave will propagate.**
This statement is generally true. Sound waves can propagate more quickly through materials where the particles are closer together.
Based on this analysis, the false statement is: **B. The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.**
A. **Sound waves travel fastest through solids.**
This statement is true. Sound waves travel fastest in solids because the particles are closer together, allowing for quicker transmission of the vibrations.
B. **The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.**
This statement is misleading and can be considered false. While denser media can sometimes lead to faster sound transmission, the relationship is not straightforward. In gases, an increase in density usually results in a decrease in sound speed, whereas in solids and liquids, other factors come into play, such as elasticity. Thus, density alone does not determine the speed of sound.
C. **As particles in a medium get farther apart the wave speed increases.**
This statement is false in general. In gases, as temperature increases, the particles move faster and are also further apart, leading to increased speeds, but primarily due to kinetic energy rather than just distance between particles.
D. **The closer the particles within the medium, the faster the sound wave will propagate.**
This statement is generally true. Sound waves can propagate more quickly through materials where the particles are closer together.
Based on this analysis, the false statement is: **B. The denser the medium the faster the sound wave.**