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The speed of sound in most solids is somewhat greater than in air, yet the density of solids is much greater (10^3 to 10^4 times greater). Explain why this is the case.

Answer :

Sound travels faster in solids than in air primarily due to the higher rigidity or stiffness of solids, measured by Young's modulus, which outweighs the effect of increased density.

The speed of sound depends significantly on the medium through which it is traveling. The fundamental reason behind why sound travels faster in solids than in gases is due to two main factors: the density of the medium and its rigidity or stiffness. While it is true that increasing density usually tends to decrease the speed of sound, the effect of rigidity is much greater. In the case of solids, their rigidity, measured by the Young's modulus, is much higher than that of gases, which means they are less compressible. Despite the higher density of solids, their high rigidity results in a greater speed of sound compared to gases like air.

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