Contrary to the statement provided, sound actually travels faster in water than in air. The speed of sound in water is approximately 1500 meters per second, which is about four times faster than its speed in air, which is roughly 343 meters per second at room temperature.
The reason for the difference in speed is primarily due to the properties of the medium. In this case, water is denser than air, which allows sound waves to propagate more efficiently. The intermolecular forces between water molecules are stronger compared to the molecules in air, allowing sound waves to transmit more effectively through the denser medium.
Furthermore, the speed of sound also depends on temperature, pressure, and salinity. In general, sound travels faster in warmer water and at higher pressure levels. Salinity, or the concentration of dissolved salts in water, can also have a slight effect on the speed of sound. However, the impact of salinity on sound speed in water is relatively small compared to temperature and pressure.
It's important to note that the speed of sound can vary in different water conditions, but in general, sound travels faster in water compared to air.