Velocity of Sound in Solid, Liquid and gases with reasons and explanations..

Velocity of Sound in Solid, Liquid and gases

Velocities of sound in different mediums

Different questions and answers..

Q1. In which medium is the velocity of sound greater; solid, liquid or gas? Why?

=> Velocity of Sound is greater in Solid, than Liquid and gas.

It can be Summarized as: 

Velocities are greater in

Solid> Liquid > Gas.

The Simple reason for this is that, the molecules in solid are tightly packed than in gas and liquid.

Also, more broadly, the reasons are in below questions….

Q2. Why does sound travels faster in metals (Solid) than in air?

=> Sound waves are longitudinal waves . Velocity of longitudinal Wave is

V = √(E/D). 

Where,

            V = Velocity of longitudinal waves

            E = Elasticity of Medium

            D = Density of Medium

Now, velocity of sound depends upon the ratio (E/D). For solid medium, the ratio is much greater than that for the gaseous medium. Though density of Solids are high, but elasticity is relatively very very high resulting in greater value of the ratio (E/D). For air, it is relatively small.So, sound travels faster in metals than in air.

Q3. Velocity of sound in solid is greater than liquid, why?

=> Sound is a longitudinal mechanical wave. Its velocity in medium is given by the relation,

                  V=√(E/D)

                  Where, E and D are as mentioned earlier.

Value of modulus of elasticity (Elastic factor) is more greater in solid than in liquid so that, the ratio E/D is greater in solids than in Liquid.

So,  Velocity of Sound is greater in Solids than in Liquids.

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