sound science Flashcards
What is sound?
Sound is a variation in the pressure of the air which influences our ears and our brains.
How is sound measured?
Sound is measured in Hertz.
What factors vary the volume of a material?
Density of the materials and their makeup.
How does sound energy travel?
Sound energy travels in waves, specifically longitudinal waves.
What is sound power?
Sound power is the rate at which sound energy is produced at source, measured in Watts.
What is the formula for calculating decibels?
N= 10 Log.10 (l2/i2) = 10 log.10 (p2/p1)2.
What is the voice range in Hertz?
Voice range is 100hz-1200hz.
What is the piano range in Hertz?
Piano range is 25hz-5000hz.
What is the hearing range in Hertz?
Hearing range is 20hz-50000hz.
What is the threshold of hearing?
The weakest sound the average human can hear.
What occurs at the threshold of hearing?
The membrane in the ear is deflected by a distance less than the diameter of an atom.
What is the threshold of pain in relation to sound?
The strongest sound your ears can tolerate, beyond which sounds become painful.
What is the velocity of sound proportional to?
The velocity is proportional to the pressure squared of the outer ear.
What is the function of the outer ear?
The outer ear collects sound waves and funnels them into the eardrum.
What is the role of the middle ear?
The middle ear is an air-filled cavity that passes vibrations.
What does the inner ear contain?
The inner ear contains 25000 ear nerve endings and is responsible for balance.
What does the cochlea do?
The cochlea converts vibrations into electrical impulses.
What is the formula for reverberation time?
RT= 0.16V/ A.
What factors affect the reverberation time of a room?
The size of the room and the sound absorption properties of its surfaces.
What surfaces absorb sound in a room?
Walls, floors, ceiling, and doors.
How is an absorption unit calculated for a surface?
Absorption unit = Absorption coefficient x area.
How is an absorption unit calculated for objects like chairs?
Absorption unit = absorption coefficient x number of items.
