sound waves

• sound waves = are longitudinal waves created from a vibrating source
• sound waves = mechanical waves = require a medium
• the speed of sound is different in various materials
• sound waves travel more quickly in solids because the particles in it are closely packed with each other
• characteristics of sound waves = pitch, loudness, timbre
• pitch = highness or lowness of a sound
• the frequency of a wave dictates the pitch of a sound
• audible frequencies = 20 hz - 20,000 Hz
• ultrasonic frequencies = above 20,000 Hz
• infrasonic frequencies = below 20 Hz
• dog = 50,000 Hz
• bat = 100,000 Hz
• loudness = refers to how soft or intense the sound is
• loudness = can be determined by the amplitude of the wave
• unit for the intensity level of sound = (dB) = decibels
• decibel = alexander graham bell
• human hearing range in terms of loudness = 0dB-120dB
• threshold of hearing = 0dB
• threshold of pain = 120dB
• loudness = considered as the physical sensation that differs from different people
• noise = is a distorted sound wave that is not pleasing to the senses
• timbre = tone quality
• timbre = used in differentiating two different sounds that have the same pitch and loudness