Question

question 4 (multiple choice worth 2 points)
(03.03 mc)

what happens when a sound wave moves from air to water?

it slows down.
it speeds up.
it stays the same.
it reverses.

Explanation:

Identify wave type

Sound is a mechanical wave. Mechanical Waves require a physical medium to travel because they propagate through particle-to-particle interactions.

Analyze medium properties

Air is a gas with widely spaced particles. Water is a liquid where particles are much closer together and more tightly packed.

Determine propagation speed

Using the Wave Propagation concept, mechanical waves travel faster through denser, more elastic media because the closely packed particles can transmit the vibrational energy more rapidly. Therefore, sound travels faster in liquids than in gases.

Compare speeds

The speed of sound in air is approximately \(343\text{ m/s}\), whereas in water it is approximately \(1480\text{ m/s}\). Thus, when moving from air to water, the wave speeds up.

Answer:

• It slows down.
• It speeds up. (Correct answer)
• It stays the same.
• It reverses.