Waves are really interesting, and one important thing about them is the medium, or material, they move through. The medium affects how fast the waves travel. This happens because different materials have different traits, like how heavy they are and how stretchy they are. These traits impact how quickly waves can carry energy.

How Medium Affects Wave Speed

1. Density: Usually, waves move faster in heavier (denser) materials. But this isn't always true. For example, sound waves go faster in solid materials than in liquids, and even faster in gases compared to liquids.

2. Elasticity: Elasticity is how well a material can go back to its original shape after being squished or stretched. A material that is more elastic can help waves travel faster.

3. Basic Formula: We can use an easy formula to understand wave speed ($v$) in a medium. It looks like this: $v = f \lambda$ Here, $f$ stands for frequency (how often the waves happen) and $\lambda$ means wavelength (the distance between waves). If we change the medium, it can change either $\lambda$ or $f$, which will change $v$.

In short, knowing how the medium affects wave speed is really important! It shows us how everything in the physical world is connected in exciting ways.