nature of sound

Acoustics

The study of sound.

What is sound?

Vibratory energy transmitted by pressure waves in the air or through another medium.

Hearing

The perception of sound.

Compression and Rarefaction

Waves occur from a compression of the medium followed by an expansion of the medium.

Frequency

The number of cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What is a cycle regarding sound waves?

One period of compression and rarefaction in a sound wave.

Period

The length of time measured for one compression and one rarefaction.

Amplitude

The height of the compression wave.

Intensity

The magnitude or strength of a sound.

Loudness

The perception of intensity.

Decibel (dB)

A logarithmic scale expressed as a ratio of a measured pressure to a reference pressure.

Periodic Sounds

Sounds that repeat over time, such as speech and music.

Aperiodic Sounds

Sounds that vary randomly over time, such as noise.

What does it mean when a sound is described as having both physical and psychological properties?

Physical properties refer to measurable aspects like frequency and intensity, while psychological properties refer to perceptions like pitch and loudness.