Why is the speed of sound in air relatively low?
ABecause air is very dense indeed
BBecause air is highly compressible
CBecause air carries no vibration
DBecause air is warmer than water
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Because air is highly compressible
1. A compressible medium is one that squashes easily, so it is not rigid.
2. Air is highly compressible, and that is why the speed of sound in air is low.
3. Air is in fact far less dense than water, so density is not the reason.
4. Liquids and solids resist compression, so sound moves through them faster.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (high school, CC BY 4.0), Ch 14 "Sound", section The Speed of Sound_
Related questions
Two identical sirens sound, one on a parked car and one on a car speeding towards you. WhaA singer's note makes a piano string sound without touching it. What is happening?Why does the speed of sound in a gas change with temperature?Sound reaches you faster through a steel rail than through the air. Why?A sound is described as periodic. What does that say about the particles of the medium?A vibrating guitar string makes a sound. What does it do to the surrounding air?Why can sound not travel across a vacuum?You drive an oscillating object far above its natural frequency. What happens to the ampli