answersLogoWhite

0

They travel faster in water. Water molecules are closer together (more dense) than are air molecules and sound is a compressive phenomenon, meaning that a sound wave is carried through a medium by the molecules of that medium transferring the sound energy one to another. If the molecules are closer together, this energy transfer happens more quickly. Human ears aren't really designed to notice this difference, mostly because we're in air all the time, but dolphins and whales take great advantage of it.

User Avatar

Arjun Bednar

Lvl 13
2y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Can light waves travel better in water or air?

Since air has a lower optical density than water, light waves can travel faster in air.


Do Light waves travel more slowly through air and water?

Light waves travel faster through air than through water because air has a lower refractive index than water. This means that light waves experience less bending (refraction) in air compared to water, allowing them to move faster.


Why do sound waves travel faster in steel than in air or water?

steel sound waves always go faster in solids


Why does sound travel faster in the water than the air?

Sound travels faster in water than air because water is denser than air, allowing sound waves to propagate more efficiently. The molecules in water are closer together, which enables the sound waves to transmit quicker through the medium. Additionally, water has higher bulk modulus compared to air, facilitating faster transmission of sound waves.


Do light waves travel faster through air than it does through water?

yes


What does water have that is greater than air which causes sound waves to travel faster in water than in air?

Water is denser than air, which allows sound waves to travel faster through it because denser mediums transmit vibrations more efficiently. The molecules in water are more tightly packed compared to air, allowing sound waves to propagate more quickly by transferring energy through the medium at a faster rate.


Do waves move faster in air or in water?

Waves generally move faster in water compared to air. This is because water is denser and provides more resistance to the movement of the wave, which results in faster propagation speeds. In contrast, air is less dense and offers less resistance, causing waves to move slower.


Does sound travels faster through water or air?

Sound waves travel faster through denser mediums, and water is denser than air, so sound travels faster through water than air


Does sound travel quicker through air or water?

Sound travels faster through water than through air because water is denser and provides more molecules for sound waves to travel through, leading to a faster transmission of sound.


In what medium do waves travel faster?

Waves travel faster in denser mediums. For example, sound travels faster in water than air.


When sound waves travel from air to water what will happen to the speed at which they are traveling?

Sound speeds up when it goes into water from air. Sound travels much faster in water than in air.


Do sound waves or light waves travel faster?

In air, light waves travel about 871 thousand times faster than sound waves.