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UPSC 2006: In which one among the following is the speed of sound maximum?
(a)Air at 0 °C
(b)Air at 100 °C
(c)Water
(d)Wood
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Not attemptedCorrect Answer: (d) Wood
The velocity of sound increases markedly from gases to liquids to solids. In dry air at 0 °C it is about 331 m s⁻¹ ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/summary/sound-physics?utm_source=openai)); in water it is roughly 1 450 m s⁻¹ ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/science/seawater/Acoustic-properties?utm_source=openai)); while along the grain of wood it can reach 3 500 – 5 000 m s⁻¹ ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/science/wood-plant-tissue/Thermal-properties?utm_source=openai)). Hence sound travels fastest in wood, making option (d) correct; all other listed media have lower speeds.
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What is the correct answer to this UPSC 2006 Science & Technology question?▼
The correct answer is option (d): Wood. Watch the detailed video explanation in our Sherlocking Prelims course on UnlockIAS.
Which year was this Physics question asked in UPSC Prelims?▼
This question was asked in UPSC CSE Prelims 2006, GS Paper 1, as Question 4. It falls under Science & Technology > Physics.
What is the difficulty level of this UPSC question?▼
This question is rated "easy". It tests basic recall and most well-prepared aspirants should answer it correctly.
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Physics?▼
UPSC has asked 104 questions from Physics (under Science & Technology) across multiple years. Visit the topic page to see the full list and year-wise trends.