Because of its elasticity, which of the following materials would conduct sound waves the fastest?

air
iron
water
oxygen

Iron.

Why was it easier to break the sound barrier the first time at a high altitude?

Air particles at a high altitude are more elastic.
The air temperature at a high altitude is lower.
Aircraft can fly faster at high altitude.
The air is more dense at a high altitude.

The air density at a high altitude is lower, which means there is less air resistance and therefore less drag on the aircraft, making it easier to achieve higher speeds and break the sound barrier.

Which of the following materials would conduct sound waves fastest?

lead, because it is a heavy, dense metal
aluminum, because it is a lightweight metal
air, because it is a gas
water, because it is a liquid

Lead, because it is a heavy, dense metal.

Which of the following would conduct sound waves fastest?

cold metal (10°C)
cold air (10°C)
hot air (70°C)
hot metal (70°C)

Hot metal (70°C) would conduct sound waves fastest. This is because sound travels faster through materials with higher elasticity and lower density, which is the case with hot metals due to their increased kinetic energy and decreased resistance to deformation.

Which is not a factor affecting the speed of a sound wave?

elasticity
reflectivity
temperature
density

Reflectivity is not a factor affecting the speed of a sound wave. The speed of sound is primarily dependent on the density, elasticity, and temperature of the medium through which it is traveling. Reflectivity refers to the ability of a surface to reflect sound waves, which can affect how the sound is heard or perceived, but not its speed.

To determine which material would conduct sound waves the fastest, we need to consider the properties of the materials. In this case, we are specifically looking at elasticity.

Elasticity refers to the ability of a material to deform under stress and return to its original shape when the stress is removed. Sound waves are longitudinal waves that propagate through the compression and rarefaction of particles in a medium. The speed of sound in a material depends on the properties of that material, such as its density and elasticity.

Generally, materials with higher elasticity will conduct sound waves faster, as the waves can propagate more easily through the medium.

From the given options, iron is the material that has the highest elasticity. Therefore, iron would conduct sound waves the fastest among air, iron, water, and oxygen.