Physics – 3.4 Sound | e-Consult

Sound travels as vibrations through a medium. In solids, particles are tightly packed and held together by strong intermolecular forces. This close proximity allows vibrations to be transmitted rapidly from one particle to the next. The density of the particles also contributes; higher density means more particles per unit volume, facilitating faster transmission.

In liquids, particles are less tightly packed than in solids but still have significant intermolecular forces. This allows for relatively rapid transmission of vibrations, though not as fast as in solids.

In gases, particles are widely spaced and have weak intermolecular forces. Vibrations are transmitted by collisions between particles, which are infrequent and less efficient than the direct transmission in solids or liquids. The lower density of gases further contributes to the slower speed of sound.

Therefore, the closer and more tightly bound the particles, the faster the vibrations (and thus the speed of sound) will be.