Is sound travels fastest in solids than how solids block path of sound?
Answers
According to me, sound does travel the fastest in solids. This can be demonstrated from the fact that when you keep your ears close to a solid, say a wooden surface, and hit it with a stick, or knock on it, you would hear a clear sound as soon as you do so, however this would take time in a liquid medium. This is because a solid has its molecules packed tightly, which helps sound waves to propogate. Now, you asked why solids block sounds? well, as i said before, if your ears are in contact with the solid, you will say that the solid hasn't blocked the sound, it can still reach you, can't it?
But, in a room with closed doors and windows, the sound is absorbed partially by these obstructions (doors, etc.) in the way to your ears. Also, after passing through the door/window the medium changes from a solid to air, and the waves now have to propagate through air molecules, which are far apart, thus the sound becomes fainter. I hope I have got my point across.
But, if I am wrong, please correct me :)
Answer:
in your case solids block path due to medium transition, the two properties mentioned are not interrelated.
Explanation:
let us assume sound is in medium1(air) and reaches medium2(iron sheet), and for different mediums energy required to produce vibrations is different.
so as sound wave travels from medium1 to medium2, the energy vibrating gaseous medium will not be sufficient for producing vibration in solid medium and hence will be reduced/blocked.