Sound is a mechanical wave that needs a medium to travel. Unlike light (which travels fastest in vacuum), sound travels fastest in solids and slowest in gases.
Speed in Air: ~343 m/s (at 25°C).
Speed in Water: ~1,480 m/s.
Speed in Steel: ~5,960 m/s.
Effect of Temperature: Higher temp → faster sound.
At standard room temperature (~25°C or 298 K):
Rule: Sound travels fastest in solids → slowest in gases. This is because particles are most closely packed in solids, allowing vibrations to transfer faster.
Temperature significantly affects the speed of sound in air:
The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 m/s at room temperature (25°C). It travels faster in water (1,480 m/s) and even faster in steel (5,960 m/s).
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