Yes, all states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—can transmit sound, although the mechanism of sound transmission varies in each state.
In solids, such as metals or wood, sound is transmitted through vibrations. When an object or material is struck or disturbed, it sets the particles or molecules within the solid in motion. These vibrations travel through the solid, transferring energy from one particle to the next. The particles' interactions propagate the sound wave, allowing it to travel through the solid medium.
In liquids, like water or air, sound is transmitted through the compression and rarefaction of the medium. When a sound source, such as a vibrating object or a person's voice, creates pressure variations in the medium, it generates compression waves. These waves consist of regions of high pressure (compression) and low pressure (rarefaction) that propagate through the liquid. The molecules or particles in the liquid move back and forth, transferring the sound energy and allowing the sound wave to travel.
In gases, such as the Earth's atmosphere, sound is also transmitted through the compression and rarefaction of molecules. When a sound source creates vibrations, it causes the air molecules to compress and rarefy, creating pressure waves that propagate through the air. The successive compressions and rarefactions of air molecules transmit the sound energy, enabling the sound wave to travel through the gaseous medium.
It's worth noting that the transmission of sound requires a medium for propagation. In a vacuum, where there is an absence of matter, sound waves cannot propagate because there are no particles or molecules to transmit the vibrations. This is why sound cannot travel through empty space. However, in the presence of a medium, sound can transmit through the respective states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases.