A student is performing an experiment comparing sound
and light waves. The student gathers the following data.
What conclusion does the student most likely make based
on this data?
Medium
Speed of Sound
Temperature
(°C)
Ice
Speed of
Sound (m/s)
3200 m/s
1500 m/s
346 m/s
Water
Steam
25
100
O Light waves always travel the same speed; however, the
speed of sound is determined by the medium that it
travels through
O All sound waves always have the same energy, so the
temperature of the medium does not affect wave speed.
O Light needs to vibrate particles, so it travels fastest in
tightly packed solids, while sound does not need a
medium, so it travels fastest in a gas.
O Tightly packed particles in solids slow down the light
waves, however, sound waves make particles bounce
into each other, so they travel faster in solids.
Medium
Speed of Light
Index of
Refraction
1.00
1.33
1.57
Air
Speed of Light
(m/s)
2.99 x 108
2.26 x 108
1.91 x 108
Water
Glass

Up of elements with the same number of valence electrons. vertical column in the periodic table of elements such as alkali metals or halogens. a horizontal row of elements in the periodic table. this is a characteristic of the elements in the periodic table that shows a pattern. it may increase or decrease across or down the table. periodic trend these are the highly reactive elements located in group 1 of the periodic table. these elements have one electron in their outer energy level which makes them highly reactive with water and halogens. these are the reactive elements located in group 2 of the periodic table. these elements have two electrons in their outer energy level which makes them reactive with water and halogens. alkaline earth metals these are the group 3 or d-block elements. these dense metals with high boiling points can have different oxidation states and all are solid at room temperature with the exception of mercury. transition metals this is the highly reactive family of elements with 7 valence electrons. this is an element with full valence shell, very unreactive. this is a group of elements with few valence electrons that conducts heat and electricity. one of a class of elements having properties intermediate to metals and nonmetals. this is a type of element that has many valence electrons, not a conductor.