Asked by huhhf3;q

The speed of sound in different media at increasing temperatures is shown in the data table below.
The table shows the speed of sound in freshwater, seawater and air at different temperatures.
Speed of Sound in Different Media at Increasing Temperatures
Temperature (°C)
0
10
20
30
Speed of sound in freshwater (m/s) 1,403 1,447 1,481



1,507
Speed of sound in seawater (m/s)
1,449
1,490
1,522
1,546
Speed of sound in air (m/s)
331
337
343
355
Why does sound travel the slowest in air?
(1 point)
The wind blocks the sound waves and carries them in all directions.
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.
The temperature of air varies more than the temperature of water.
The kinetic energy of the molecules of air is too low to transport sound waves.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The distance between molecules of air is greater than for molecules of water.

Because air molecules are much farther apart than in liquids, they transmit vibrations less efficiently (lower stiffness), so sound travels slower in air than in water.