How much faster does sound travel in water compared to air?

Sound travels significantly faster in water compared to air due to the differences in the medium's density and elasticity. In general, sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to propagate, and their speed is influenced by the properties of that medium.

In air, the speed of sound is approximately 343 meters per second at room temperature. However, in water, the speed of sound is about 1,480 meters per second. To understand the comparative speed, we can calculate the ratio of the speed of sound in water to that in air:

1,480 m/s (speed in water) divided by 343 m/s (speed in air) gives us a value that approximates around 4.3.

This means that sound travels about four times faster in water than it does in air, making the correct choice the one that indicates this factor. Understanding this difference is crucial, especially in contexts like underwater communication or marine biology, where the propagation of sound plays a vital role.