Asked by KJ

A student investigates the speed of waves through different materials. The student knows that sound is a mechanical wave that travels on longitudinal waves, while light is an electromagnetic radiation that travels on a transverse wave. A sound and light wave are shown.



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The student measures the speed of sound as it passes through three different materials. The type of material, density of the material, and speed of sound as it passes through each material are recorded in the data table.


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The student then measures the speed of light through the same materials and records the data in the table.


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The table shows the density of four materials.



Material Density (g/cm3)
Water
1.00

Steel 7.86
Aluminum 2.58
Polyethylene (plastic) 0.92




Through which material will sound travel the fastest?


steel


water


aluminum


polyethylene (plastic)

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
steel

Sound travels fastest in stiff solids. The speed depends on the material's elastic properties and density; steel is a rigid solid with a high elastic modulus, so sound propagates fastest through it.