Cite an experiment to show that sound needs a material medium for its propagation.

Take an electric bell and hang it inside an empty bell-jar which is fitted with a vacuum pump.

Initially, one can hear the sound of the ringing bell. Now, pump out some air from the bell-jar using the vacuum pump. You will realise that the sound of the ringing bell decreases. If you keep on pumping the air out of the bell-jar, then glass-jar will be devoid of any air after some time. Now try to ring the bell. No sound is heard but you can see bell prong is still vibrating. When there is no air present in the bell jar, a vacuum is produced. Sound cannot travel through vacuum. Therefore, this experiment shows that sound needs a material medium for its propagation.