alleryStart learning →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_
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