How does the state of matter affect the speed waves traveling through it?

Answer 1

speed of light in different mediums is inversely proportional to the density of the mediums. in a medium with a higher density,the light rays are difficult to penetrate into the medium and hence the spped decreases. as the density decreases , speed of light increases.

Answer 2

When a substance is solid, its particles move slower than they do as a liquid, which is slower than gas, which is slower than plasma. For example, the water molecules inside an ice cube move slower than the water molecules in a drop of water. By the same token, gaseous water molecules move FASTER than liquid ones. Finally, the 4th state of matter, plasma, has the fastest particles (although this state of matter is rarely observed on Earth).

This is a result of a combination between thermal energyand magnetism. Water, as you may know, is a polar molecule. This means that the electro-negativity of the oxygen atom causes it to "hoard" the electrons from the less electronegative hydrogen atoms. The concentration of electrons on one side of the molecule creates the poles. In any amount of water greater than one molecule, the water molecules will "stick" together, as the negative end at the oxygen attracts to the positive end of another atom's hydrogen. But I digress. As the molecules accelerate (get faster) they have more thermal energy (the energy of the movement of particles). The more energy they have, the more apt they are to break the polar bonds and spread out. Because of this, the more thermal energy (heat) they have, the further they will spread out, eventually transitioning to the next state of matter.

Answer 3

if the the matter is solid the speed of sound can go up like the case with steel. sound goes through steel at 5X (3,805 mph) the speed of sound in air (761 mph). if liquid, like water, sound slows down a bit. if it's a gas, then it depends on the temperature of the gas or any state of matter. the warmer the faster. the colder the slower.

Answer 4

Sound (and all physical waves) traveling through matter travels the fastest through solids, next through liquids and slowest through gases. It's just the opposite for electromagnetic waves -- fastest through gasses, next through liquids and slowest through solids

Answer 5

Light travels fastest, at 299,792.458 km/s, though vacuum. It is slightly slower than that in gases: up to 0.18% slower in benzene. With liquids and solids, it depends on the substance. For example is it faster in glass, at 204,000 km/s than it is in methylene iodine (a liquid) at 172,600 km/s. But in diamond it is slower still, at approx 123,900 km/s.

Answer 6

The state of matter affects the speed of waves by influencing the medium's density and elasticity. In general, waves travel faster through denser and more elastic mediums, such as solids, compared to less dense and less elastic mediums, such as gases. This is because the particles in more solid mediums are closer together and can transmit the wave energy more efficiently.

Answer 7

Generally, yes it does. The more dense a medium is the faster the speed of sound. There are other factors involved.

Answer 8

Sound travels faster in a medium which is more dense.