The two main physical factors that influence the speed of a mechanical wave are (aka science question)

The two main physical factors that influence the speed of a mechanical wave are the medium through which the wave travels and the properties of that medium. More specifically, these factors are:

1. The Density of the Medium :- The density of a medium is the mass per unit volume. In general, the denser the medium, the slower the wave travels. This is because in a dense medium, particles are closer together and it takes more energy to move them and pass the wave along. For instance, sound waves travel slower in air than in water because water is denser than air.

2. The Elasticity of the Medium :- Elasticity refers to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after being deformed. A medium that is more elastic can transfer waves faster, as the particles are able to spring back after being disturbed by the energy of the wave more quickly. This is why sound waves, which are mechanical waves, travel faster in solids than in liquids or gases—solids tend to be more elastic.

The relationship between wave speed (v), elasticity (E), and density (ρ) in solids can be represented by the following mathematical equation: \[ v = \sqrt{\frac{E}{\rho}} \] where E stands for the modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus for longitudinal waves) and ρ is the density of the material.