A student is performing an experiment comparing sound
and light waves. The student gathers the following data
What conclusion does the student most likely make
based on this data?
Medium
Speed of Sound
Temperature
(°C)
0
Ice
Water
Steam
Speed of
Sound (m/s)
3200 m/s
1500 m/s
346 m/s
25
100
Light waves always travel the same speed, however,
the speed of sound is determined by the medium that
it travels through
All sound waves always have the same energy, so
the temperature of the medium does not affect wave
speed
Light needs to vibrate particles, so it travels fastest in
tightly packed solids, while sound does not need a
medium, so it travels fastest in a gas.
Tightly packed particles in solids slow down the light
waves; however, sound waves make particles bounce
into each other, so they travel faster in solids.
Medium
Speed of Light
Index of
Refraction
1.00
1.33
1.57
Air
Water
Glass
Speed of Light
(m/s)
2.99 x 10
2.26 x 10
1.91 x 10
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