Select the statements that is TRUE about sound waves.
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5 points
Sound waves travel fastest through gases, liquids, then solids.
Sound waves transmit louder on hard, smooth surfaces.
Sound waves travel as fast as light waves.
Sound waves can travel through a vacuum.
Sound waves travel fastest through gases, liquids, then solids.
The correct statement is:
Sound waves can travel through a vacuum.
To determine which statement is true about sound waves, let's evaluate each option:
1. Sound waves travel fastest through gases, liquids, then solids.
To verify this statement, we need to understand the speed of sound in different mediums. Sound waves generally travel faster through solids compared to liquids and gases. This is because the particles in solids are more closely packed, allowing for faster transmission of sound waves. The statement is TRUE.
2. Sound waves transmit louder on hard, smooth surfaces.
This statement is not entirely accurate. The loudness of sound waves depends on various factors, including the intensity of the initial sound source, the distance from the source, and the efficiency of the sound wave transmission medium. The nature of the surface (hard or soft) does affect sound wave reflection, but it does not directly determine the loudness of the transmitted sound. Therefore, the statement is NOT TRUE.
3. Sound waves travel as fast as light waves.
Sound waves and light waves travel at vastly different speeds. Sound waves require a medium (solid, liquid, gas) to propagate, whereas light waves can travel through vacuum as well as various mediums. Light waves travel much faster than sound waves. Therefore, the statement is NOT TRUE.
4. Sound waves can travel through a vacuum.
Sound waves require a medium to travel since they rely on the mechanical vibrations of particles in the medium to propagate. In a vacuum, where there are no particles, sound waves cannot travel. Therefore, the statement is NOT TRUE.
Based on the explanations above, the only TRUE statement about sound waves is:
- Sound waves travel fastest through gases, liquids, then solids.