Concept:The speed of sound depends on the elasticity and density of the medium. It is highest in solids, lower in liquids, and lowest in gases.
Explanation:Sound travels by transferring vibrations between particles. In solids like steel, molecules are tightly packed and highly elastic, so vibrations transmit very quickly. In liquids like water, particles are less tightly bound, so speed is moderate. In gases like air or hydrogen, particles are far apart and elasticity is low, resulting in the slowest speed.
Typical speeds: Steel ≈ 5000–6000 m/s, Water ≈ 1500 m/s, Air ≈ 343 m/s, Hydrogen ≈ 1284 m/s. Although hydrogen has lower density than air, its speed is still much less than that of solids. Therefore, among the given options, steel has the maximum speed of sound.
Answer:B. Steel