OLD Chapter 11 - The Auditory and Vestibular Systems Flashcards
What is sound?
Audible variations in air pressure.
What does the frequency of sound tell us?
The number of compressed or rarefied patches of air that pass by our ears each second.
What is the difference between high-frequency and low-frequency sound?
High-frequency sound has more compressed and rarefied regions packed in the same space as low-frequency sound.
What is sound intensity? How do we perceive it?
Sound intensity is the air pressure difference between the peaks and the troughs of sound waves. High-intensity waves are perceived as louder.
What is the range of the human auditory system?
From 20 Hz to 20.000 Hz. This range decreases significantly, especially at the higher end, as people age and expose themselves to loud sound.
What is sound pitch and how does it show?
The pitch of the sound is determined by the frequency. An organ can play sounds as low as 20 Hz, whereas a piccolo can play sounds of 10.000 Hz.
What gives music instruments and human voices their unique qualities?
The simultaneous combination of different frequency waves at different intensities.
