How do sound waves travel through different mediums?

Sound waves travel through different mediums (such as solids, liquids, and gases) by causing particles in the medium to vibrate. The way sound waves propagate depends on the properties of the medium, including its density, elasticity, and temperature. Here’s how sound waves travel through each medium:

1. Through Solids:
   • In solids, sound travels quickly because the particles are closely packed together. When sound energy is applied, the particles vibrate and transfer energy to neighboring particles. The stiffness (elasticity) of solids allows sound to travel at high speeds. For example, sound travels faster through metal than through wood or rubber.
2. Through Liquids:
   • In liquids, sound waves also propagate by causing particles to vibrate. However, since particles in liquids are more spread out than in solids, sound travels slower through liquids than solids. For instance, sound travels faster in water than in air but slower than in solids like steel.
3. Through Gases:
   • In gases, sound travels the slowest because the particles are far apart and have less interaction with each other. In air, for example, sound travels at a speed of about 343 meters per second at room temperature. The speed of sound in gases depends on factors like temperature and pressure—higher temperatures generally result in faster sound transmission, as the particles move more rapidly.

Sound travels fastest in solids (due to close particle proximity and high elasticity), slower in liquids, and slowest in gases (due to greater particle distance and less efficient energy transfer).