Speed of Sound 1
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 6.3.3
Speed of Sound
Sound needs to travel through a medium. The more rigid the medium is, the higher the speed of sound through it. The more compressible the medium is, the slower the speed of sound through it.
Gases
- Gases are readily compressible (easy to squash).
- So the speed of sound in a gas is very slow.
Liquids
- Liquids are more rigid and less compressible than gases.
- So the speed of sound in liquids is much higher than in gases.
Solids
- Solids are significantly more rigid than liquids and gases and are very hard to compress.
- Therefore, the speed of sound in solids is much higher than in liquids or gases.
Test yourself on Speed of Sound 1
In science fiction films we often hear sound effects of battles taking place in outer space. Considering the conditions needed for sound waves to propagate, why are these sound effects unrealistic?