Q. The velocity of sound is greatest in

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A

water

B

air

C

vacuum

D

steel

Solution:

Velocity of sound in any elastic medium is given by
$v = \frac{E}{ρ} = \frac{Elasticity of the medium}{Density of the medium}$
As solids are most elastic while gases least
ie, $E_{S} > E_{L} > E_{G} .$
So, the velocity of sound is maximum in solids and minimum in gases.
Hence, $v_{steel} > v_{water} > v_{air}$
$5000 m s^{- 1} > 1500 m s^{- 1} > 330 m s^{- 1}$