Question

An echo is sound that returns to you after being reflected from a distant surface (e.g., the side of a cliff). Assuming that the distances involved are the same, an echo under water and an echo in air return to you _____________________
a. at different times, the echo under water returning more slowly.
b. at different times, the echo under water returning more quickly.
c. at the same time

Answer 1

Answer:

b. at different times, the echo under water returning more quickly.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer is B

An echo underwater and an echo in the air will return at different times. The echo underwater will return more quickly than the echo in the air.

Explanation:

The physics of this is simple.

Water and air are both made up of particles. The particles for water are more closely or densely arranged that those of the air molecules. Hence sound travels faster in water than in air. When measured, the speed actually differs by as much as 5 times with water being the fastest medium.

Think of it like this. Assume you have two stacks of dominoes, one closely packed than the other but exactly the same amount of dominos, you'd notice that the stack that is more tightly arranged will be the first to topple over because it takes less time for the kinetic energy from the first domino to reach the next and on and on like that until the last domino.

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