Sound travels the fastest in:

Options

A. liquids
B. solids
C. gases
D. vacuum

Answer

To determine in which medium sound travels the fastest, we need to analyze how sound propagates through solids, liquids, and gases. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand the nature of sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that travels through different mediums by causing particles to vibrate. The speed of sound depends on how closely packed these particles are in the medium.

**Hint:** Remember that sound requires a medium to travel, and its speed is influenced by the arrangement of particles in that medium.

### Step 2: Analyze the arrangement of particles in solids
In solids, particles are closely packed together. This close arrangement allows for efficient transfer of sound energy. When one particle vibrates, it quickly collides with its neighboring particles, transferring the sound energy rapidly.

**Hint:** Think about how tightly packed objects can transfer energy more quickly than those that are spaced apart.

### Step 3: Analyze the arrangement of particles in liquids
In liquids, the particles are less tightly packed than in solids, but they are still closer together than in gases. This means that sound can still travel relatively fast, but not as fast as in solids. The vibrations of particles in liquids can transfer sound energy, but the distance between particles is greater than in solids.

**Hint:** Consider how the distance between particles affects the speed of energy transfer.

### Step 4: Analyze the arrangement of particles in gases
In gases, the particles are very far apart compared to solids and liquids. This large distance means that when one particle vibrates, it takes longer for the sound energy to reach the next particle because they are not in close proximity. Therefore, sound travels the slowest in gases.

**Hint:** Visualize how sound would travel in a crowded room versus an empty one.

### Conclusion
Based on the analysis of how sound travels through different mediums, we conclude that sound travels fastest in solids, then in liquids, and slowest in gases.

**Final Answer:** Sound travels the fastest in solids.