Question

The velocity of sound is largest in:

• A. water
• B. air
• C. metal
• D. vacuum

Hint:

Sound travels fastest in textbfsolids, slower in textbfliquids, and slowest in textbfgases. Sound cannot travel in a vacuum.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Recall how sound propagates. Sound is a mechanical wave and requires a material medium to travel. It cannot propagate in a vacuum. Step 2: Compare the speed of sound in different media. The speed of sound depends on the elasticity and density of the medium: \[ \text{Speed of sound: Solids}>\text{Liquids}>\text{Gases} \] Step 3: Analyze the given options.

(A) Water (liquid) — faster than air, slower than solids
(B) Air (gas) — slowest among material media
(C) Metal (solid) — highest speed ✔
(D) Vacuum — sound cannot travel
Step 4: Final conclusion. The velocity of sound is largest in metal. \[ \boxed{\text{(C)}} \]