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Denser molecular packing in liquid water transmits mechanical acoustic waves rapidly. The figure is taken from NOAA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

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Sound travels about four times faster in water than in air

Denser molecular packing in liquid water transmits mechanical acoustic waves rapidly

Sound relies on collisions between adjacent molecules to propagate through a medium. Because molecules in liquid water are packed much closer together than in air, acoustic vibrations pass from molecule to molecule far more rapidly. Water transmits sound at roughly 1,500 metres per second compared to 343 metres per second in air.

More awakening of the Turks. New motor fire apparatus to replace the hand pump and runners of ancient times. The first day this was used after the Allied withdrawal, it passed through a couple of LCCN2011649916 — Frank and Frances Carpenter Collection · Public domain · source

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NOAA

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Tags: physics, sound, acoustics

Sound travels about four times faster in water than in air: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Denser molecular packing in liquid water transmits mechanical acoustic waves rapidly. The figure is taken from NOAA, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a science fact?: Yes. It sits on the Science shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.