Sound moves faster in solid objects than it does in air because the molecules are very close together in a solid and very far apart in a gas. For example, sound travels at about 760 mph in air, 3300 mph in water, 11,400 mph in aluminum, and 27,000 mph in diamond!
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The temperature of the material also makes a difference. The colder the material, the faster the sound. This is why sound seems to be louder or clearer in the winter or at night. The air is a little cooler and since it’s cooler, the molecules are a little more tightly packed.


The speed of a wave is based on the basic distance over time relationship. If you watch the crest of a wave, the speed is how fast the crest is observed to move a distance.


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