Which statement is true about sound waves?

Sound waves are mechanical waves that require a medium (such as air, water, or solids) to travel through; they cannot propagate through a vacuum. This is why they cannot be transmitted through a vacuum. The nature of sound waves involves alternating regions of compression and rarefaction, meaning they include both types of motion, which contradicts the idea that they consist only of compression.

Sound waves do indeed travel faster in water than in air due to the denser medium of water, which allows the vibrations to transmit energy more efficiently than they can in air. In water, sound waves can travel at speeds of approximately 1500 meters per second, while in air, the speed is about 343 meters per second at room temperature. Additionally, sound waves can reflect off surfaces, which is a fundamental property of wave behavior.

Thus, the statement that sound waves travel faster in water than in air accurately reflects the physical principles governing wave propagation.