Sound travels fastest in

Options

A. water
B. steel
C. air
D. kerosene oil

Answer

To determine in which medium sound travels fastest, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Sound Propagation**: Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium to travel. It propagates by oscillating the particles of the medium in the direction of the wave.

2. **Effect of Medium on Sound Speed**: The speed of sound depends on the properties of the medium. Generally, sound travels faster in denser mediums. This is because in denser mediums, particles are closer together, allowing sound waves to transmit energy more efficiently.

3. **Analyzing the Given Options**: We have four options to consider:
- Water (liquid)
- Steel (solid)
- Air (gas)
- Kerosene (liquid)

4. **Comparing Densities**:
- **Air** is the least dense among the options (gas).
- **Water** and **Kerosene** are both liquids, but water is denser than air.
- **Steel**, being a solid, is denser than both water and kerosene.

5. **Conclusion**: Since sound travels fastest in the densest medium, and steel is the densest among the given options, we conclude that sound travels fastest in steel.

### Final Answer:
Sound travels fastest in **steel**.

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