Question

Velocity of sound is maximum in
A. water
B. oil
C. air
D. iron

Answer 1

Hint: The velocity of the sound depends on the density of the medium through which it is traversing. As the density of medium is higher, the propagation of sound will be faster. This is the basic concept for solving this question. We have to compare the densities between the substances given in the option.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Sound energy is a kind of energy that can be audible by humans or else we can say that they can make a vibration in the ears of animals and thus we hear the sound. Sound like the heat energy is a type of kinetic energy. Molecules at larger temperatures have more energy, therefore they can vibrate faster. As the molecules are vibrating faster, sound waves are able to travel faster. The speed of sound is affected by the elasticity and density of the medium through which it is traversing. Generally, sound wave can travel faster in liquids than in gases and faster in solids than in liquids as the solid is having higher density. So the speed will be higher in iron than others.

So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: Sound is a physical wave which includes oscillatory elastic compression and also oscillatory displacement of a fluid. Hence the medium is acting as storage for both potential and kinetic energy. There are two primary factors affecting the speed of sound. One is the material through which the wave is passing like air or water and another factor is temperature. If the medium is known as well as the temperature, we can make predictions on the speed of sound. Humidity is having little impact on the speed of sound. Air pressure is having no impact at all in an ideal gas approximation.