Which sequence orders air, water, and metals by increasing speed of sound?

Which sequence orders air, water, and metals by increasing speed of sound?

• A. Air, Water, Metals
• B. Water, Air, Metals
• C. Air, Metals, Water
• D. Metals, Air, Water

Answer: (A)

Sound travels at different speeds depending on how stiff and dense the medium is. In gases like air, the particles are far apart and easy to compress, so sound moves slowly. In liquids such as water, the particles are closer and the medium is harder to compress, so sound speeds up. In solids, especially metals, the stiffness is even higher, so sound travels much faster. Typical speeds help visualize the order: air around 343 m/s, water about 1500 m/s, and metals often around 5000 m/s or more. Because air is the slowest, water is intermediate, and metals are the fastest, the correct increasing sequence is air, water, metals.

Sound travels at different speeds depending on how stiff and dense the medium is. In gases like air, the particles are far apart and easy to compress, so sound moves slowly. In liquids such as water, the particles are closer and the medium is harder to compress, so sound speeds up. In solids, especially metals, the stiffness is even higher, so sound travels much faster.

Typical speeds help visualize the order: air around 343 m/s, water about 1500 m/s, and metals often around 5000 m/s or more. Because air is the slowest, water is intermediate, and metals are the fastest, the correct increasing sequence is air, water, metals.