What effects sound.
Temperature
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/7/8/18780660/9109752.jpeg?1364572986)
- Temperature affects the speed of sound because heat is a form of kinetic energy.
- Molecules at higher temperatures contain more energy which means they can vibrate faster.
- Because the molecules vibrate faster, the sound waves can travel quicker in warm temperatures.
Stiffness
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/7/8/18780660/9310674_orig.jpeg)
- The stiffness of the medium affects the speed of sound.
- Sound travels more quickly in stiff media because when the particles of the medium are compressed, they quickly spread out again.
- Sound also travels better over long distances in stiff medias because sound waves lose energy more slowly than in less stiff medias.
Density
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/7/8/18780660/6365160_orig.jpg)
- The density of the medium also affects the speed of sound.
- This is because in denser materials, it is harder for the particles to move as sound passes by.