I understand that sound travels faster in water then in air. Water is a liquid, and air is gas.
Water still has the ability to roll the molecules over each other (so water can flow), it has some flexibility.
But I do not understand how a solid that is inflexible can make sound waves travel faster then in a flexible liquid.
In fact, sound waves travel over 17 times faster through steel than through air.
Sound waves travel over four times faster in water than it would in air.
Question:
- Why does sound travel faster in steel than in water? I am interested in the quantum mechanical level.