The table shows the speed of sound in various media.

Question

Medium
Speed of

Sound (m/s)

Air 343
Glass 5,640
Steel 5,940
Water 1,433
If a sound wave transitions from one medium to another, which transition would result in a shortening of the wavelength of the sound wave?

(1 point)
Responses

water to glass
water to glass

air to glass
air to glass

steel to water
steel to water

air to steel

Answer 1

The wavelength of a sound wave is inversely related to the speed of sound in the medium. When sound travels from a medium with a lower speed of sound to a medium with a higher speed of sound, the wavelength increases. Conversely, when it travels from a medium with a higher speed of sound to a medium with a lower speed of sound, the wavelength decreases.

To determine which transition results in a shortening of the wavelength, we can analyze the speed of sound in the given media:

• Air: 343 m/s
• Glass: 5,640 m/s
• Steel: 5,940 m/s
• Water: 1,433 m/s

Now let's evaluate the transitions:

1. Water to Glass: Speed increases (1,433 m/s to 5,640 m/s) → Wavelength increases
2. Air to Glass: Speed increases (343 m/s to 5,640 m/s) → Wavelength increases
3. Steel to Water: Speed decreases (5,940 m/s to 1,433 m/s) → Wavelength decreases
4. Air to Steel: Speed increases (343 m/s to 5,940 m/s) → Wavelength increases

The only transition that results in a decrease in wavelength is steel to water. Thus, the correct answer is:

steel to water.