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ScienceSurprise 3/5Difficulty 2/5Reviewed on September 17, 2026

Sound travels approximately four times faster in water than in air because water is denser and its molecules are packed more closely together.

Why it is true

The speed of sound depends on the density and elasticity of the medium. In water, molecules are much closer together than in air, allowing sound waves to propagate much more efficiently and quickly, reaching about 1500 meters per second.

Source: NOAA

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