A student is performing an experiment comparing sound and
light waves. The student gathers the following data.
What conclusion does the student most likely make based
on this data?
Medium
Speed of Sound
Temperature
(°C)
Ice
Water
Steam
Speed of
Sound (m/s)
3200 m/s
1500 m/s
346 m/s
25
100
Light waves always travel the same speed; however, the
speed of sound is determined by the medium that it
travels through.
All sound waves always have the same energy, so the
temperature of the medium does not affect wave speed.
Light needs to vibrate particles, so it travels fastest in
tightly packed solids, while sound does not need a
medium, so it travels fastest in a gas.
Tightly packed particles in solids slow down the light
waves; however, sound waves make particles bounce
into each other, so they travel faster in solids.
Medium
Speed of Light
Index of
Refraction
1.00
1.33
1.57
Air
Water
Glass
Speed of Light
(m/s)
2.99 x 10
2.26 x 108
1.91 x 10