Sound travels faster in water than in air primarily because water is denser and has a higher bulk modulus compared to air. The bulk modulus is a measure of the resistance of a substance to compression under pressure. In water, the molecules are closer together and can transmit vibrations more efficiently, leading to a higher speed of sound propagation. In air, the molecules are more spread out, resulting in a lower density and lower bulk modulus, which slows down the transmission of sound waves.
We can’t hear underwater primarily because our ears are adapted to detect sound waves transmitted through air, not through water. Sound waves travel differently in water due to its higher density and different acoustic impedance compared to air. Underwater, sound waves travel more efficiently and over greater distances, but they do not easily reach our ears due to the impedance mismatch and the structure of our auditory system, which is designed for air-transmitted sound.
Sound travels faster in liquids than in gases because liquids, such as water, have higher densities and bulk moduli compared to gases like air. These properties allow sound waves to propagate more quickly through liquids, as the molecules are closer together and can transmit vibrational energy more effectively than in gases where molecules are more spread out.
Sound travels faster in water than in mercury primarily due to the differences in density and bulk modulus between the two liquids. Water is denser and has a higher bulk modulus compared to mercury, enabling sound waves to propagate faster through water. Mercury, being less dense and having a lower bulk modulus, transmits sound waves at a slower speed compared to water.
Low-frequency sound waves travel further in water because they experience less attenuation (loss of energy) over distance compared to high-frequency waves. This phenomenon occurs because water molecules absorb and scatter higher frequencies more readily than lower frequencies. As a result, low-frequency sounds can travel longer distances in water before their energy dissipates significantly, making them detectable over greater ranges underwater.