Through which one among the following materials does sound travel slowest ?

Sound is a mechanical wave that requires a medium for propagation, traveling through the compression and rarefaction of particles [1]. The speed of sound is primarily determined by the medium's elasticity and density [t3][t4]. Generally, sound travels fastest in solids, followed by liquids, and slowest in gases [c3][t4]. This is because particles in solids are more tightly packed and have stronger intermolecular bonds, allowing for faster transmission of kinetic energy [t5][t6]. Among the given options, glass and wood are solids, and water is a liquid, all of which have significantly higher speeds of sound than air. In air (a gas), the speed of sound is approximately 343 m/s at 20°C [t1], whereas it is roughly 1,480 m/s in water and exceeds 3,000 m/s in most types of glass and wood. Therefore, sound travels slowest through air.

Sources

1. [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