Question

Velocity of sound is maximum in
(A) Solids
(B) Liquids
(C) Gases
(D) Ionized gas

Answer 1

Hint: Sound in physics, is a type of wave which behaves acoustically which can be transmitted through a medium such as solids, liquids, and gases. It is an example of a mechanical wave because it requires a medium to travel. Some examples of mediums are given in the problem which we will discuss to find the solution to this question.

Complete step by step answer:
As we know that sound is a type of mechanical wave so it needs a medium to travel. Here, mediums are given as solid, liquid and gas, and ionized gas. The velocity of sound depends on the density of the medium through which it is traveling. Hence the more the density of the medium the faster the sound propagates through the medium. In a solid, the atoms are very closely bound together as a result the density of solids is higher than the liquids and gases. Therefore the velocity of sound is maximum in solids.

Hence the option (A) is the correct answer.

Additional information: The study of sound is very necessary as it can provide information about the character, place, and time. It is a very important source of energy for communication as it helps us to deliver information, as for many animals sound is a main form of communication. Not only this sound is also used in many other applications such as SONAR and ultrasonography which uses the ultrasonic sound.

Note: Sound can be defined as the sensation which is perceived by the sense of hearing. The sound is a mechanical wave so it needs a medium to travel and it cannot be able to travel through a non-mechanical medium for example vacuum. Therefore the sound can be heard in space because the space is completely void and it is a vacuum. On earth, the velocity of sound in air is $344m/s.$