Nature of Sound (Appendix A) Flashcards
What are the five basic qualities of a sound wave?
Frequency, wavelength, amplitude, waveform, and phase
Define frequency
The number of times per second the cycle of the sound wave repeats (Hz)
What the frequency range of human hearing?
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Define wavelength
The physical distance covered by one complete cycle of a sound wave
What is the speed of sound at sea level at 60°F?
344m/sec
Define amplitude
The energy (experienced as volume) in a sound wave, measured in decibels.
Define waveform
The shape of a sound wave
Spell the first 16 notes of the harmonic series
1 (fundamental)
1 5
1 3 5 7
1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7 7
1
Which notes of the harmonic series are considered overtones or partials?
Every note after the fundamental
Why do lower interval limits exist?
When played together, lower notes may have more audible upper overtones that sound dissonant or muddy.
Higher notes do not share this problem because the overtones are less audible.
Define phase
The measure of how far a sound wave has travelled in its cycle—measured in degrees from 0° to 360°.
Define resonance
The physical transference of vibration from one source to another object.
Define reflection
The collision of a sound wave with another object, absorbing some energy and reflecting in a new direction.
Define reverberation
The remaining, audible reflections after a sound has stopped transmitting.
Define standing waves
Wave patterns formed from interference between reflections of a sound wave, i.e. a guitar string.
Standing waves are the origin of harmonics.