Explanation: The speed of sound in air is directly related to the temperature of the air. As temperature increases, the speed of sound also increases. This is because the molecules in warmer air have greater kinetic energy and move faster. These faster-moving molecules collide more frequently and transmit the sound wave more quickly.

Physics: The speed of sound (v) is related to the temperature (T) by the following equation:

Where:

• γ (gamma) is the adiabatic index (approximately 1.4 for air).
• R is the specific gas constant for air.
• T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.
• M is the molar mass of air.

This equation shows that as T increases, v increases. The relationship is not linear; it's a square root relationship, meaning that a small change in temperature can have a noticeable effect on the speed of sound.

When a tuning fork with a frequency of 440 Hz is struck, it vibrates at that frequency, producing a sound wave. When the tuning fork is held near a closed box, the box acts as a resonator. A resonator is a structure that amplifies certain frequencies of sound.

The box will resonate most strongly at frequencies that are multiples of the fundamental frequency of the box. The fundamental frequency is determined by the length of the box. For a closed box, the fundamental frequency is related to the length of the box by the formula: f = v / (2L), where f is the fundamental frequency, v is the speed of sound, and L is the length of the box. The closed ends of the box act as antinodes for the sound waves, meaning they have maximum displacement. This causes the sound waves to constructively interfere with each other at the fundamental frequency, resulting in a significant amplification of that frequency.

The phenomenon that occurs is called resonance. Resonance occurs when the frequency of the driving force (in this case, the tuning fork) matches the natural frequency of the system (in this case, the box). This leads to a large amplitude of vibration and a loud sound.

Two conclusions the student can draw are:

• The speed of sound is greater in solids than in liquids and gases. This is because the metal bar and glass rod have much higher densities and stronger intermolecular forces than air, allowing vibrations to be transmitted more quickly.
• The speed of sound is greater in liquids than in gases. This is because the glass rod and liquid (implicitly, as the student is comparing to air) have higher densities and stronger intermolecular forces than air, facilitating faster vibration transmission.

The table clearly demonstrates a direct correlation between the material's ability to transmit sound and its physical properties, specifically density and the strength of its intermolecular forces.