IPC Soundwave Vocab

ACOUSTICS

study of how materials influence sound

DIFFRACTION

bending of sound waves

DECIBEL

unit to measure intensity. SI label dB

ECHO

reflected sounds that return to you

FUNDAMENTAL

slowest vibration, lowest pitch

INTENSITY LEVEL

comparisons of sound energy measured in dB

LOUDNESS

perception of the rate of sound energy

MUSIC

combination of sounds that are pleasing to hear

NOISE

bothersome, harsh, unappealing sounds

NOISE POLLUTION

excess of unwanted sounds

DOPPLER EFFECT

pitch is higher toward the observer; pitch is lower away from the observer

OVERTONE

whole number multiple of fundamental frequency

OPEN PIPE

tube not sealed on either end

CLOSED PIPE

tube open, and sealed at one end

INTERFERENCE

sound waves canceling one another

PITCH

quality that describes highness or lowness of sound

SONAR

sound navigation and ranging

SOUND WAVE

longitudinal wave produced by vibration

SPEED OF SOUND

340 m/s at 20 degrees C

Harmonics

possible modes of vibration

REFRACTION

change in temperature. affects speed and direction

ULTRASONIC

sound waves above 20,000 Hz

SONIC BOOM

energy heard from shock wave

VIBRATION

back and fourth movement of matte

INTENSITY

actual measurements of loudness (sound energy)