physical science terms

sound energy

a type of mechanical wave that can be detected by the human ear

human hearing range

20-20,000hz

sound wave are

longitudinal

acoustic spectrum

the continuum of all possible sound waves, including frequencies too high/low for us to hear

pitch

how high / low an audible tone sounds to the human ear, correlating with frequency

intensity

a measured of power contained in a wave, often refering to sound or electromagnetic waves

loudness

human perception of the intensity of a sound wave, measured in decibels dB

timbre

the distinctive sound of an instrument, also called quality

parts of producing sound

• larynx

• vocal cords

• throat and sinus passages

• tongue, teeth, lips

• diaphragm

parts of the outer ear

• auditory canal

• tympanic membrane (eardrum)

parts of the middle ear

• eardrum

• hammer, anvil, stirrup

• eustachian tube

parts of the inner ear

• cochlea

• auditory nerve

• semicircular canal

fundamental tone

the longest (lowest frequency) standing wave produced by a vibration of a structure

overtone

a shorter, faster vibration (higher pitch) in addition to the fundamental tone produced by a vibrating structure

harmonics

the fundamental tone and its overtones

acoustic amplification

the process of making a sounder louder

echolocation

process that uses the time interval and direction of an echo to determine the position of an object

sonar

sound navigation and ranging

types of sonar

• passive

• active

• side-scan

infrasonic sound

sound having frequencies below human hearing range

ultrasonic sound

sound having frequencies above human hearing range

sonography

technology that uses ultrasonic to create images of objects found inside other objects

ultrasound uses

• sonograms

• nondestructive testing

• veterinary medicine