Sound generally travels faster in a solid medium compared to air. The speed of sound is determined by the properties of the medium through which it travels, specifically the density, elasticity, and compressibility of the material.
In general, solids have a higher density and greater elasticity than gases, such as air. These properties allow sound waves to propagate more efficiently and at a faster speed in a solid medium. The particles in a solid are closer together, which enables faster transmission of vibrations from one particle to another.
The speed of sound in air at room temperature is approximately 343 meters per second (about 1,125 feet per second). In contrast, the speed of sound in typical solid materials like steel or aluminum can range from 3,200 to 6,000 meters per second (about 10,500 to 19,700 feet per second), which is significantly faster than in air.
To provide a comparison, sound waves travel approximately 15 times faster in steel than in air. This difference in speed is why you may hear a noticeable delay when standing far away from a construction site, for example, where sound waves travel through the solid ground faster than through the air.
It's important to note that the speed of sound can vary depending on the specific properties of the materials involved, such as their composition, temperature, and density. However, in general, sound travels faster in solids than in air.