Physics of Sound Flashcards
sensation that results from the stimulation of the auditory mechanism by pressure variations in any “elastic” medium
sound
unwanted sound
noise
requirements for sound
1st- sender
2nd- medium
3rd- receiver
source of vibration and source of energy
sender
carries the pressure change
medium
auditory mechanism to receiver and interpret the signal
receiver
causes alternative pressure changes in the air molecules
vibration
molecules of the medium forced together causing high pressure
compression
molecules of the medium separate causing low pressure
rarefaction
a series of compression + rarefactions
sound wave
what does speed depend on
depends on the medium, the denser the medium, the faster sound travels
1,100 feet per second
air
4,500 feet per second
water
15,000 feet per second
steel
graphical representation of the compressions and rarefactions
sine wave
horizontal axis
time
vertical axis
molecular vibrations
frequency is also known as
pitch
sound frequency is quantified in terms of
hertz (Hz)
human ear is sensitive to frequencies as low as ___Hz and as high as ___Hz
20
20,000
speech hearing range
250 Hz - 4000 Hz
consonant sounds
high frequencies
vowel sounds
low frequencies
human ear is MOST sensitive to sounds in the range between ___Hz and ___Hz
1000
4000
human ear is LEAST sensitive in
low frequency range