Question 19

Sound waves travel faster through water than through air.

Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium to propagate, and they travel significantly faster in denser mediums like water compared to less dense mediums like air.

A) Radio waves

Radio waves are electromagnetic waves and do not require a medium to travel. They actually travel faster in a vacuum than in any medium, including both air and water, making this option incorrect.

B) Gamma waves

Gamma waves, like radio waves, are also electromagnetic waves. They travel at the speed of light in a vacuum and do not depend on the medium, thus their speed in water or air is not relevant, confirming this option as incorrect.

C) Sound waves

Sound waves are the correct answer because they travel faster in water due to water's higher density compared to air. This increased density allows the molecules to transmit sound energy more efficiently, resulting in a higher speed of sound in water.

D) Visible light waves

Visible light waves, being electromagnetic, also travel faster in a vacuum than in any medium. While they do propagate in both water and air, their speed is slower in water than in air, making this option incorrect.

Conclusion

Sound waves are the only type of wave listed that travels faster through water than through air, due to the properties of the medium affecting wave propagation. All other options, being either electromagnetic waves or not relevant to the context, do not meet the criteria set by the question. Thus, C is definitively the correct answer.