sound waves travel faster in humidity than in dry air. But as temperature increases the velocity of sound also increases. So sound travels faaster in hot day than in winter. But during winter there is also presence of humidity in fog. Why doesn't sound travel faster in winter?

While it is true that sound generally travels faster in humid air compared to dry air, the presence of humidity alone does not guarantee that sound will travel faster in all conditions. In the case of winter, several factors come into play that can affect the speed of sound, outweighing the impact of humidity.

1. Temperature: As you mentioned, temperature is a significant factor in determining the speed of sound. In general, the speed of sound increases with higher temperatures. During winter, the air temperature is usually much colder than during a hot day, causing the speed of sound to decrease.

2. Air Density: Temperature also affects air density. Cooler air is denser, while warmer air is less dense. The denser the medium through which sound waves travel, the slower the speed of sound. Therefore, the denser air during winter contributes to the slower speed of sound, even if there is humidity present.

3. Moisture content: While humidity does have some influence on sound speed, it is not the primary factor in winter conditions. In extremely cold temperatures, the moisture in the air tends to freeze, resulting in the formation of fog or falling as snow. This frozen or solidified moisture can scatter and absorb sound waves, making them slower and weaker, which counteracts any increase in speed that might be caused by humidity.

In conclusion, although humidity typically promotes faster sound transmission, the combination of lower temperatures, increased air density, and the scattering effects of frozen moisture in winter prevail, resulting in slower sound propagation compared to a hot day with higher temperatures.

The statement that sound waves travel faster in humidity than in dry air is not entirely accurate. In fact, sound waves generally travel faster in dry air compared to humid air. The reason for this is related to the composition and density of the air.

The speed of sound in a gas, such as air, primarily depends on its temperature and the molecular composition of the gas. In general, as the temperature of the air increases, the speed of sound also increases. This is because at higher temperatures, the gas molecules have higher kinetic energy, allowing them to vibrate more quickly and transmit sound waves faster.

On the other hand, humidity, which refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air, can affect the speed of sound, but not in the same way as temperature. Humid air contains water vapor, which has a different molecular structure compared to the oxygen and nitrogen molecules that make up dry air. The presence of water vapor in the air causes an increase in the air's density, which results in a decrease in the speed of sound. Therefore, sound waves generally travel slower in humid air compared to dry air at the same temperature.

Now, coming to your specific question about why sound doesn't travel faster in winter when there is humidity in the form of fog, we need to consider the overall conditions. Winter typically brings colder temperatures, which generally mean that sound waves would travel slightly slower because of the lower temperature. However, the presence of fog or humidity in the air can have a complex effect on the speed of sound.

In winter, when the air is colder, sound waves may travel slower due to the lower temperature. When there is fog present, the density of the air increases due to the water droplets suspended in it. This increase in density can compensate for the decrease in speed caused by the lower temperature. As a result, the overall effect on the speed of sound may vary depending on the specific conditions.

In summary, while sound generally travels faster in warmer temperatures and slower in humid air, the presence of fog during winter can affect the speed of sound. It is important to consider both temperature and humidity when assessing how sound waves propagate in different conditions.