Question
Which statement best compares the speed of a sound wave moving through a pot of boiling water and the water vapor above the pot?
The sound wave would move faster through the water than through the water vapor.
The sound wave would move slower through the water than through the water vapor.
The sound wave would move the same speed through the water and the water vapor.
The sound wave would move through the water and water vapor at the same speed, but decrease in speed at the transition point.
The sound wave would move faster through the water than through the water vapor.
The sound wave would move slower through the water than through the water vapor.
The sound wave would move the same speed through the water and the water vapor.
The sound wave would move through the water and water vapor at the same speed, but decrease in speed at the transition point.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
The sound wave would move faster through the liquid water than through the water vapor.
Reason: sound speed depends on a medium’s compressibility and density. Liquid water has a much higher bulk modulus (is much less compressible) so sound travels ~1500 m/s in water, whereas in hot water vapor near boiling it’s only on the order of 400–500 m/s.
Reason: sound speed depends on a medium’s compressibility and density. Liquid water has a much higher bulk modulus (is much less compressible) so sound travels ~1500 m/s in water, whereas in hot water vapor near boiling it’s only on the order of 400–500 m/s.
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