In a given medium, the speed of light always exceeds the speed of sound. This is a fundamental property of light and sound in various materials. The reason for this difference in speed is due to the nature of the two phenomena and their interaction with matter.

Light:

• Light is an electromagnetic wave, and it can travel through a vacuum, where it attains its maximum speed (the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second).
• In most materials, including air, water, and glass, light travels at very high speeds. The exact speed of light in a material depends on the material’s optical properties and is typically slower than in a vacuum but still significantly faster than sound.

Sound:

• Sound is a mechanical wave, and it relies on the vibration of particles in a medium (e.g., air, water, or solids) to propagate.
• The speed of sound in a given medium depends on several factors, including the density and elasticity of the material. In air at room temperature, sound travels at approximately 343 meters per second.

Since the speed of light is inherently faster than the speed of sound in any material, there is no situation where light’s speed exceeds that of sound in a given medium. This fundamental difference in speed between light and sound is a key factor in various aspects of our daily experiences, such as the observation of lightning before hearing thunder during a thunderstorm.