How does making a medium more rigid affect the speed of sound in it?
AThe speed falls towards zero
BThe speed is entirely unchanged
CThe speed becomes unpredictable
DThe speed of sound increases
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The speed of sound increases
1. Rigidity describes how strongly a medium resists being compressed.
2. The more rigid, or less compressible, the medium, the faster sound travels through it.
3. That is why sound moves faster through solids and liquids than through gases.
4. Density works the opposite way, slowing sound down as it rises.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (high school, CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Sound", section The Speed of Sound_
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