Yes, it is possible to decrease the speed of sound waves, and it happens when the waves travel through different materials or media. The speed of sound is not constant and depends on the properties of the medium through which it propagates.
The speed of sound in a medium is determined by two primary factors: the elasticity (compressibility) and the density of the medium. In general, sound travels faster in materials with higher elasticity and lower density.
For example:
Sound travels faster in solids than in liquids, and faster in liquids than in gases. This is because solids are more elastic and have higher particle densities than liquids and gases.
Sound travels faster in denser materials. For example, sound travels faster in water compared to air due to the higher density of water.
The temperature of the medium also affects the speed of sound. In general, as the temperature of a gas increases, the speed of sound in that gas also increases.
To illustrate, the speed of sound in air at room temperature (around 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit) is approximately 343 meters per second (about 1,125 feet per second). However, in water, sound travels at around 1,480 meters per second (about 4,860 feet per second), and in steel, sound travels at around 5,000 meters per second (about 16,400 feet per second).
In specialized situations or experiments, scientists and engineers can manipulate the properties of the medium to change the speed of sound waves for various purposes. For instance, this is crucial in medical ultrasound imaging, where sound waves travel through the human body at different speeds, allowing for the creation of detailed images of internal structures.