The speed of sound waves generally increases with the density of the medium, but it also depends on the medium's elasticity. In general, sound travels fastest in solids, then in liquids, and slowest in gases.
Among the substances listed:
- Air has a density of 0.0012 g/cm³,
- Water has a density of 1.00 g/cm³,
- Steel has a density of 5,000 g/cm³,
- Copper has a density of 6,420 g/cm³.
While both steel and copper are solids and have higher densities, sound travels fastest in materials with high stiffness (elasticity) and density.
Copper has the highest density of all the substances listed, which suggests that it would likely support sound waves very effectively. Thus, the correct answer is:
Copper.
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