Question
Which do sound waves travel fastest through?
solids
gases
mixtures
liquids
solids
gases
mixtures
liquids
Answers
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
Solids.
Sound travels fastest in solids because they have much greater stiffness (elastic modulus) than liquids or gases. Speed depends on √(elasticity/density); the high elasticity of solids more than offsets their higher density. (Typical speeds: steel ~5,000 m/s, water ~1,500 m/s, air ~343 m/s.)
Sound travels fastest in solids because they have much greater stiffness (elastic modulus) than liquids or gases. Speed depends on √(elasticity/density); the high elasticity of solids more than offsets their higher density. (Typical speeds: steel ~5,000 m/s, water ~1,500 m/s, air ~343 m/s.)
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