In which one among the following is the speed of sound maximum?

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Q: 39 (IAS/2006)
In which one among the following is the speed of sound maximum?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,49,56,10,36,10,49

keywords: 

{'sound maximum': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'air': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'speed': [0, 1, 2, 0], 'wood': [2, 1, 4, 10], 'water': [65, 15, 80, 129]}

The speed of sound is impacted by the medium it travels through. The option choices presented varying states and conditions for this medium, being Air at 0°C, Air at 100°C, Water, and Wood.

Option 1 and 2 reflect air at different temperatures. The speed of sound increases with temperature because the molecules move faster. So sound will travel faster at 100°C than at 0°C.

Option 3 is water which is denser than air and allows sound to travel faster.

Option 4 is Wood. In wood, which is a solid, the particles are tightly packed, creating a highly efficient medium for sound transfer. Density influences sound speed, and because solids are denser than liquids or gases, sound travels fastest in this state of matter. Hence, the correct answer is Wood (Option 4), where the speed of sound is the fastest among the given choices.

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