Sound Flashcards
What is sound?
Sound is a type of energy that travels through air, water, and other materials as a wave of pressure and displacement.
How does sound travel through different materials?
Sound travels through different materials by creating waves of pressure and displacement that move through the material. The properties of the material, such as its density and elasticity, determine how fast the sound waves travel and how they behave.
What is the speed of sound in air?
The speed of sound in air at sea level and room temperature is approximately 343 meters per second (or about 1,125 feet per second).
What is the frequency of a sound wave?
The frequency of a sound wave is the number of cycles (or vibrations) per second that the wave produces. It is measured in Hertz (Hz).
What is the wavelength of a sound wave?
The wavelength of a sound wave is the distance between two consecutive points on the wave that are in phase (i.e., have the same amplitude and direction).
How is sound intensity measured?
Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic scale that compares the sound pressure level to a reference level. The threshold of hearing is defined as 0 dB, and the threshold of pain is around 120 dB.
What is the Doppler effect?
The Doppler effect is the change in frequency (and wavelength) of a sound wave due to the relative motion of the source and the observer. It is responsible for the change in pitch that is heard when a siren or a passing car approaches and then recedes.
How do we hear sound?
We hear sound when sound waves enter our ears and vibrate our eardrums. The vibrations are then transmitted through three small bones in the middle ear (the ossicles) and converted into electrical signals by tiny hair cells in the inner ear. The signals are then sent to the brain via the auditory nerve, where they are interpreted as sound.
What is the difference between sound and noise?
Sound refers to the physical phenomenon of vibrations that produce audible sensations, while noise is unwanted or unpleasant sound that interferes with communication or comfort.
What is the (SRI)?
The Sound Reduction Index is a measure of the effectiveness of a partition in reducing sound transmission between two spaces. It is determined by comparing the sound pressure level on one side of the partition to the sound pressure level on the other side.
What are the key factors for good sound insulation?
The key factors for good sound insulation include high mass, completeness (airtightness, no gaps, uniformity), flexibility (not stiff), and isolation (discontinuous construction).
What is the Sabine formula?
The Sabine formula is a mathematical equation used to calculate the reverberation time in a room, which is the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after the source has stopped.
What is the ideal reverberation time for a speech room?
The ideal reverberation time for a speech room is around 0.6 to 0.8 seconds.
What are the main factors for achieving good acoustics in a church?
The main factors for achieving good acoustics in a church are absorption and reverberation time.
What is a dead room or anechoic chamber?
A dead room or anechoic chamber is a room designed to eliminate all reflections of sound, producing an environment with minimal reverberation.
