If sound moves faster through...?

[neoweb]

If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?

[Alkatran]

If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?

The sound waves don't transfer between materials such as air and wood easily. Some of the waves will get bounced back by the wood. (echo...)

[Nenad]

If sound moves faster (better?) through dense materials such as wood or metal as compared to air (over ten times quicker through glass i believe) then what's the "scientific" explanation for why putting a sheet of glass or some other barrier between you and the speaker ends up quietening the sound down?

Is it because the glass or whatever is "absorbing" some or a lot of the sound waves? How is this reconciled with the fact that it is also moving faster?

youve answered your ovn question. It is the absorbtion which dies out the sound. When you put glass in front of a speaker (in a car) notice how the whole car vibrates and the sound energy just goes to the vibration of the car. Another reason is the one stated above but this only works partially.

[Brad Barker]

reflection. some get through, but most don't.

if the sound sorce and the receptor are within the same solid medium, this reflection won't happen.