The Physics of HearingComponents of SoundA Source- Generation of Sound (Vibration)- Ex. Beating Drum, Someone Singing, Etc.A Medium-Substance Through Which Sound Travels-Ex. Air, Water, Etc.A Detector-Someone/Something to Hear the Sound-Ex. Person, Sound MeterThe Sound WaveCompression-Air Particles Move Closer TogetherRarefaction-Air Particles Move Further ApartOne Compression + One Rarefaction = One Sound Wave CycleRepeated Cycles of Compression/Rarefaction Results in the Travel of Sound Through Air-Slinky Example (pushing together pulling apart)Pure ToneA PURE TONE is the Simplest Form of SoundFigure 2.1Characteristics of a Pure Tone (perfect frequency and perfect tone)Frequency-Experienced as PITCH-Measured in HERTZ-Number of Cycles/Second within a Sound Wave-High (Large) Number – Higher Pitch-Low (Small) Number – Lower Pitch-Abbreviated HzSpeech & Frequency-Frequency Range from 400 Hz to 6,000 HzConsonants-High Frequency (In General)-Think: ‘s’ ‘f’ ‘t’, etc.-High frequency and gives the meaning so we can comprehend what is beingspokenVowels-Low Frequency (In General)
