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
25
100
Ice
Water
Steam
Speed of
Sound (m/s)
3200 m/s
1500 m/s
346 m/s
O Light waves always travel the same speed; however,
the speed of sound is determined by the medium that
it travels through.
O All sound waves always have the same energy, so
sh
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.
0 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
Air
Water
Speed of Light
Index of
Refraction
1.00
1.33
1.57
Speed of Light
(m/s)
2.99 x 108
2.26 x 10
1.91 x 10
Glass