Question

Sound travels faster in solids than in liquids.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

In the given question we have been asked that if sound travels faster than liquids or not that means we have to find the speed of sound in different states of matter. In order to find this, we will use the phenomenon of intermolecular spaces present in solids, liquids and gases.

Complete step-by-step solution:
We can say that sound waves travel faster and more effectively in liquid medium as compared to air and travel even more effectively in solid medium. This concept is particularly hard to believe for us because our general experiences have led us to hear reduced or garbled sounds in water or behind a solid door. There are reasons for this. Most of our everyday experiences are when a sound travels first through air and then through water or a solid medium. When the sound wave transfers from air into a solid some of it is reflected back into the air and some may be absorbed by the new medium. The noise coming from a room will be reduced if an observer outside closes the door. Sound from within the room will travel to the closed door and start it vibrating. The vibrating door will set the air on the outside vibrating too and a little of the original sound will be transmitted to the observer. However, some of the sound arriving at the door will have been reflected back into the room. Also, some of the sound energy will have been used up in making the door begin to vibrate so we can say some of the sound has been absorbed by the door.
So, we can clearly say that the correct option is (a) true is the correct answer because we know that the sound travels fastest in the solids then, in the liquids and slowest in the gases.

Note: This we know that solids are packed together tighter than liquids and gases, hence sound travels fastest in solids. The distances in liquids are shorter than in gases, but longer than in solids. Also the liquids are denser than gases, but less dense than solid. Gases are the slowest because they are the least dense: the molecules in gases are very far apart, compared with solids and liquids.