The rate of sound attenuation is lowest in which medium?

• A. Air
• B. Water
• C. Liver
• D. Lung

Answer: (B)

Attenuation rate is about how quickly sound energy is absorbed and scattered as it travels. The smoother and more uniform a medium, the less energy is lost. Water is a very uniform medium with minimal scattering centers and relatively low intrinsic absorption compared to air or biological tissues. In air, especially at higher frequencies, sound is absorbed and dispersed more readily, and the lungs’ air-filled spaces create many reflections and scattering. The liver, a dense soft tissue, absorbs more energy than water, leading to greater attenuation than water as sound travels through it. So water has the lowest rate of attenuation among these options, allowing sound to propagate farther with less loss.