Key Concept: Sound Propagation and Loudness
b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is NOT the correct explanation of Assertion.
[Solution Description]
First, let us analyze the Assertion: "Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because it requires a medium for propagation." This is true as per the syllabus, which states that sound needs a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for propagation and cannot travel in a vacuum (like space or the moon).
Next, the Reason: "The speed of sound in air is slower than in solids due to the lower density of particles in gases." This is also correct because the syllabus mentions that sound travels fastest in solids (e.g., iron at $5000 \, \text{m/s}$), slower in liquids (e.g., water at $1500 \, \text{m/s}$), and slowest in gases (e.g., air at $330 \, \text{m/s}$). The reason attributes this to particle density, which is scientifically valid as closely packed particles in solids transmit vibrations faster.
However, the Reason does not explain why sound cannot travel in a vacuum; it explains why sound speed varies across media. Thus, both statements are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation for the Assertion.
Your Answer is correct.
b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is NOT the correct explanation of Assertion.
[Solution Description]
First, let us analyze the Assertion: "Sound cannot travel through a vacuum because it requires a medium for propagation." This is true as per the syllabus, which states that sound needs a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) for propagation and cannot travel in a vacuum (like space or the moon).
Next, the Reason: "The speed of sound in air is slower than in solids due to the lower density of particles in gases." This is also correct because the syllabus mentions that sound travels fastest in solids (e.g., iron at $5000 \, \text{m/s}$), slower in liquids (e.g., water at $1500 \, \text{m/s}$), and slowest in gases (e.g., air at $330 \, \text{m/s}$). The reason attributes this to particle density, which is scientifically valid as closely packed particles in solids transmit vibrations faster.
However, the Reason does not explain why sound cannot travel in a vacuum; it explains why sound speed varies across media. Thus, both statements are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation for the Assertion.