The wavelength of sound in a medium can be calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Wavelength} = \frac{\text{Speed of Sound}}{\text{Frequency}} \]
Since the frequency of the sound wave is constant for a given sound, the wavelength is inversely proportional to the speed of sound. This means that the lower the speed of sound, the longer the wavelength, and vice versa.
Given the speeds in the table:
- Air: 343 m/s
- Water: 1,433 m/s
- Glass: 5,640 m/s
- Steel: 5,940 m/s
From shortest to longest wavelength, the order of the mediums based on the speed of sound is:
- Steel (5,940 m/s) - shortest wavelength
- Glass (5,640 m/s)
- Water (1,433 m/s)
- Air (343 m/s) - longest wavelength
Thus, the correct order from shortest wavelength to longest wavelength is:
steel, glass, water, air.