Question

Sound travels faster on a rainy day then on a dry day. Why?

Answer 1

The speed of sound in any medium is given by Sir Newton as ,

$v=\sqrt{E/\rho }$ ,v=E/ρ

where E=E= coefficient of elasticity of medium ,

ρ=ρ= density of medium ,

as solids are most elastic and gases are least elastic i.e. $E_s>E_l>E_g$ ,
Es>El>Eg ,

therefore speed of sound in solids is maximum and in gases is minimum i.e. $v_s>v_l>v_g$ ,

in a rainy day presence of water drops increases therefore sound travels faster through these drops (liquid) than a normal dry day , in which sound travels through air (gaseous mixture) .