Question

the speed of sound in ice, water, and steam is shown.

what best explains the speed of sound in different states of matter?

sound travels fastest in ice because energy is easier to transfer when the molecules are close together.

sound travels slowest in steam because the sound has to move around the gas molecules that are far apart.

sound travels fastest in ice because the temperature of solids is always greater, so the heat transfers the sound energy.

sound travels slowest in steam because the pressure is so great the sound cannot travel through the steam particles.

Explanation:

Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium to travel. In solids (like ice), molecules are closely packed. This close - proximity allows for easier and faster transfer of energy (sound energy in this case) as the molecules can quickly pass on the vibrational energy. In liquids (water), molecules are less closely packed compared to solids, so sound travels slower. In gases (steam), molecules are far apart, and the sound has to move through large empty spaces between molecules, making the energy transfer (and thus the speed of sound) much slower. The other options are incorrect:

• Option 2: The reason sound is slow in steam is not about "moving around" molecules but about the large distances between them.
• Option 3: The speed of sound in a medium is not directly related to the temperature of the medium in the way described (solids don't always have a higher temperature, and temperature is not the main factor here; molecular spacing is).
• Option 4: High pressure in steam is not the reason for the slow speed of sound. The molecular spacing (gas - phase nature) is the key factor.

Answer:

Sound travels fastest in ice because energy is easier to transfer when the molecules are close together.