Why Sound Moves Faster in Dense Materials

Sound moves faster in solids and liquids because their particles are close together and can pass along disturbances quickly. Most solids and liquids are incompressible, which means their densities stay nearly constant throughout. When an external force acts on them, the molecules try to return to their original positions. Th...

Solids and liquids are not easily compressible. When sound waves displace the constituent particles in these media, they display a tendency to restore to their original positions due to interparticle forces.

Recall that sound is a pressure wave. It travels through a medium as its constituents vibrate about their mean positions and transfe...