The Speed of Sound
Science: KS3, topic 3.3.12
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 The Speed of Sound
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?
A block of rubber is very easy to compress. A block of steel is very rigid and hard to compress. Through which material does sound travel faster?