21

Question 1

Distinguish between noise and music.

Answer 1

Noise is made of irregular waves, whereas music is made of periodic waves.

Question 2

How does a high-pitch musical note relate to frequency?

Answer 2

High pitch is how the ear perceives high frequencies.

Question 3

How many decibels correspond to the lowest-intensity sound we can hear?

Answer 3

0 decibels

Question 4

What did Fourier discover about complex periodic wave patterns?

Answer 4

Complex periodic signals can be disassembled into a sum of simple sine waves.

Question 5

If sound becomes louder, which wave characteristic is likely increasing - frequency, wavelength, amplitude, or speed?

Answer 5

amplitude

Question 6

What is the wavelength of the lowest sounds we can hear, about 20Hz?

Answer 6

17m

Question 7

Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (high to low) for frequency

Answer 7

721, 458, 123

Question 8

Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (high to low) for pitch

Answer 8

721, 458, 123

Question 9

Consider three notes: A 123Hz; B 721Hz; and C 458Hz. Rank (long to short) for wavelength

Answer 9

123, 458, 721

Question 10

Pitch

Answer 10

Rapid vibrations, high pitch. Slow vibrations, low pitch. Pitch is determined by frequency as received by the ear.

Question 11

Intensity

Answer 11

Determines the perceived loudness of sound

Depends on the amplitude of pressure variations within a sound wave.

Question 12

Quality

Answer 12

Determined by prominence of the harmonics and by the presence and relative intensity of the various partials.

Difference between same not on a clarinet vs a piano.

Question 13

What does the intensity of sound depend on?

Answer 13

The amplitude of pressure variations within the sound wave.

Question 14

What intensities does the human ear respond to?

Answer 14

From 10-12 W/m2 (barely percievable) to more than 1 W/m2 (painful).

Question 15

What is intensity of sound measured in? Sound level?

Answer 15

W/m2, decibel

10-12 W/m2 = 0 decibel (barely audible)

Question 16

T/F The ear senses all frequencies the same

Answer 16

False. Some frequencies are sensed much better than others. A 3500 Hz sound at 80 decibels sounds twice as loud to most people as a 125 hz sound at 80 decibels.

Question 17

Humans are most sensitive to the ____ range of frequencies.

Answer 17

3500

Question 18

Timbre

Answer 18

Describes all aspects of a sound aside from pitch, loudness or length of tone. (the color of a sound - difference between the same note on a piano and a clarinet)

Question 19

A pair of tones with the same pitch with different qualities have either?

Answer 19

different partials or a difference in relative intensity of the partials.

Question 20

Loudness is a ?

Answer 20

Physiological sensation

Question 21

Partial tone

Answer 21

Single frequency component sound wave of a complex tone

Question 21

Fundamental frequency

Answer 21

Lowest frequency of vibration or first harmonic in a musical tone

Question 22

Harmonic

Answer 22

A partial tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency

Second harmonic is twice the freq of the fundamental and so on.