Question

What is approximate value of the speed of sound in iron as compared to that in air? Illustrate your answer with a simple experiment.

Answer 1

Speed of sound in iron is approximately sixteen times the speed of sound in air.
[Speed of sound in iron = 5100 ms^-1; Speed of sound in air=332 ms^-1]
Experiment: If we put our ears to rails, we can hear the sound of the train through metal. But at the same time, when we stand near by the railway track, we are not able to hear the sound.
This occurs because when we put our ears to rails, the sound travels through iron. But in standing position, sound travels through air, and due to smaller speed of sound in air as compared to iron, we are not able to hear the sound.