In which of the following media is the speed of sound the maximum?

The speed of sound depends on the medium's elasticity and density, generally following the order: Solids > Liquids > Gases. Sound travels as a mechanical wave through compression and rarefaction [2]. In solids, the speed is determined by the square root of the elastic modulus (Young's modulus) divided by the density [1]. While density increases the effective path length for light (slowing it down), higher density in mechanical media often correlates with higher elasticity, which facilitates faster sound propagation [2]. Among the given options, Oxygen is a gas (slowest), Water is a liquid (~1,480 m/s), and Glass and Stainless steel are solids [2]. Stainless steel typically has a higher elastic modulus (approx. 180–220 GPa) compared to glass, resulting in a higher acoustic velocity [1]. Standard values for stainless steel are approximately 5,000–6,000 m/s, exceeding those of glass (~3,900–4,500 m/s).

Sources

1. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 4: Earths Interior > Primary Waves (P-Waves) > p. 60
2. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 5: Earths Magnetic Field (Geomagnetic Field) > Why Do Sound Waves Travel Faster In A Denser Medium Whereas Light Travels Slower? > p. 64