* In a vacuum: Light travels at its fastest speed, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second (186,282 miles per second).

* In a gas: Light travels slightly slower than in a vacuum, but the difference is usually negligible.

* In a liquid: Light travels even slower than in a gas. The speed of light in water is about 225,000,000 meters per second (139,812 miles per second).

* In a solid: Light travels at its slowest speed in a solid. The speed of light in glass is about 197,000,000 meters per second (122,468 miles per second).

Sound

* In a gas: Sound travels at about 343 meters per second (1,235 miles per hour) in air at room temperature.

* In a liquid: Sound travels faster than in a gas. The speed of sound in water is about 1,484 meters per second (3,318 miles per hour).

* In a solid: Sound travels at its fastest speed in a solid. The speed of sound in steel is about 5,960 meters per second (13,320 miles per hour).

Why do light and sound travel at different speeds in different states of matter?

The speed of light is determined by the electromagnetic properties of the medium through which it is traveling. In a vacuum, light travels at its fastest speed because there is nothing to impede its progress. As light passes through a gas, liquid, or solid, it interacts with the atoms and molecules of the medium, which causes it to slow down.

The speed of sound is determined by the mechanical properties of the medium through which it is traveling. In a gas, sound waves travel by causing the molecules of the gas to vibrate. In a liquid, sound waves travel by causing the molecules of the liquid to vibrate. In a solid, sound waves travel by causing the atoms of the solid to vibrate.

The denser the medium, the slower sound travels. This is because the molecules or atoms in a denser medium are more closely packed together, which makes it more difficult for the sound waves to move through them.