Q. In which medium, the speed of sound is maximum?

Correct Answer: c) Steel

Explanation:
The speed of sound depends on how stiff (elastic) a medium is and how dense it is. In general:
– Solids > Liquids > Gases for speed of sound.

This is because solids have a much higher elastic modulus compared to their density, allowing sound to travel faster.

Approximate speeds:
– Air: ~343 m/s
– Hydrogen (fastest gas): ~1,300 m/s
– Water: ~1,480 m/s
– Steel: ~5,000–6,000 m/s

Thus, among the options, sound travels fastest in steel.