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
Ice
Water
Steam
Speed of Sound
Temperature
(°C)
0
25
100
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
the temperature of the medium does not affect wave
speed.
O 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.
O Tightly packed particles in solids slow down the light
waves, however, sound wavesmake 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 108
2.26 x 10
1.91x103