Under normal conditions in air, which of the following travels faster: light or sound?

Introduction / Context:
Everyday experiences such as watching lightning and hearing thunder show that different types of waves travel at very different speeds. Light waves and sound waves are two common examples. This question asks which travels faster in air under normal conditions, light or sound. Understanding the speed difference between these waves is a basic concept in physics and helps explain many natural phenomena.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- We are considering typical conditions in air at the Earth's surface, not in a vacuum or other mediums.
- Light is an electromagnetic wave, while sound is a mechanical wave that needs a material medium.
- The options compare light and sound directly and also include distractors that suggest equal speeds or uncertainty.
- We assume standard textbook values where the speed of light is extremely large compared to the speed of sound.

Concept / Approach:
The speed of light in vacuum is about 3 * 10^8 metres per second, and in air it is only slightly less. The speed of sound in air at room temperature is about 340 metres per second. This means light travels many orders of magnitude faster than sound. That is why we see a lightning flash almost instantly, but hear thunder after a delay, and why we see an event in the distance before we hear the associated sound. Therefore, the correct answer is that light is faster than sound under normal atmospheric conditions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the approximate speed of light in air, which is close to 3 * 10^8 metres per second. Step 2: Recall the approximate speed of sound in air, which is about 340 metres per second at room temperature. Step 3: Compare these values and note that the speed of light is many millions of times greater than the speed of sound. Step 4: Evaluate option A, light, which correctly identifies light as the faster wave. Step 5: Evaluate option B, sound, which contradicts measured speeds and is therefore incorrect. Step 6: Evaluate option C, both are same, which is not supported by physical measurements. Step 7: Evaluate option D, cannot be determined, which is wrong because the speeds are well known and measured. Step 8: Evaluate option E, depends on the color of light, which might change speed slightly in materials but does not reverse the huge speed advantage of light over sound.

Verification / Alternative check:
Real world observations confirm this conclusion. During a thunderstorm, you always see the lightning before hearing the thunder, even though both are produced at the same time. Similarly, if you watch a distant fireworks display, you see the explosion and the burst of light almost instantly but hear the sound only after a noticeable delay. These everyday examples reinforce the scientific fact that light travels much faster than sound in air.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sound, option B, is much slower in air and cannot be faster than light, so this choice contradicts basic physics.
Both are same, option C, is incorrect because measured speeds clearly show a huge difference between light and sound.
Cannot be determined, option D, is wrong because the speeds of light and sound have been precisely measured and are standard values in physics.
Depends on the color of light, option E, suggests that some colors might be slower than sound, but in practice even the slowest light in typical media is still far faster than sound in air, so this answer is misleading and incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may overthink the question and consider special cases in different media instead of focusing on normal air conditions. Another pitfall is confusing how quickly sound seems to arrive in small rooms with its actual speed over long distances. Remember that the fundamental physical constants show that light, as an electromagnetic wave, travels much faster than sound, which is a mechanical vibration of particles.

Final Answer:
Light travels faster than sound under normal conditions in air.