Place the following in order from slowest to fastest medium for wave travel
warm water
cold air
warm air
cold water
cold water, cold air, warm air, warm water
To place the mediums in order from slowest to fastest for wave travel, we need to consider the speed of sound in each medium. Sound waves (which are also a type of wave) travel at different speeds depending on the density and temperature of the medium.
From slowest to fastest, the order for wave travel is as follows:
1. Cold air: Sound travels slower in cold air compared to warm air due to the lower temperature and lower density. The average speed of sound in cold air is around 331 meters per second.
2. Cold water: Sound travels faster in water compared to air due to its higher density. However, cold water is denser than warm water, resulting in slower sound propagation. The average speed of sound in cold water is around 1,482 meters per second.
3. Warm water: Sound travels faster in warmer water compared to cold water due to the lower density of warm water. The average speed of sound in warm water is around 1,498 meters per second.
4. Warm air: Sound travels fastest in warm air compared to other mediums on this list due to its low density and higher temperature. The average speed of sound in warm air is around 343 meters per second.
So, the order from slowest to fastest medium for wave travel is:
Cold air > Cold water > Warm water > Warm air.