What is the typical range for the speed of sound in the human body?

What is the typical range for the speed of sound in the human body?

• A. 500 m/s to 4000 m/s
• B. 0 to 1000 m/s
• C. 1000 to 5000 m/s
• D. 2500 to 5000 m/s

Answer: (A)

Speed of sound in the body varies with how dense and stiff a tissue is. Soft tissues like fat and muscle transmit sound at roughly 1500 m/s, while bone is much stiffer and can carry sound around 3000–4000 m/s. Because the body contains a spectrum from soft tissue to bone, a practical typical range that covers most tissues is about 500 m/s up to 4000 m/s. This range reflects the real-world variation, including the lower values in softer tissues and the higher values found in bone. The other options either miss the softer tissue values or extend beyond what bone typically reaches, making them less representative of the body's range.

Speed of sound in the body varies with how dense and stiff a tissue is. Soft tissues like fat and muscle transmit sound at roughly 1500 m/s, while bone is much stiffer and can carry sound around 3000–4000 m/s. Because the body contains a spectrum from soft tissue to bone, a practical typical range that covers most tissues is about 500 m/s up to 4000 m/s. This range reflects the real-world variation, including the lower values in softer tissues and the higher values found in bone. The other options either miss the softer tissue values or extend beyond what bone typically reaches, making them less representative of the body's range.