How fast does sound travel?

According to About.com, at room temperature, sound moves at 1,125 feet per second through air. However, factors such as humidity, temperature and material can change the speed at which sound travels.

Wikipedia describes the basic concept of sound as balls attached to springs, with sound moving one ball, which then moves the next, and so forth. In actuality, these balls and springs are molecules and their bonds, respectively. Loose springs disperse sound, whereas stiff springs transfer their energy faster, causing the speed of sound to increase. At the same temperature, sound travels over four times faster in water than air and travels 15 times faster in iron.