pitch<\/h3>\r\n
The frequency of a sound wave is associated with our perception of that sound\u2019s pitch<\/strong>. High-frequency sound waves are perceived as high-pitched sounds, while low-frequency sound waves are perceived as low-pitched sounds. The audible range of sound frequencies is between 20 and 20000 Hz, with greatest sensitivity to those frequencies that fall in the middle of this range.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n As was the case with the visible spectrum, other species show differences in their audible ranges. For instance, chickens have a very limited audible range, from 125 to 2000 Hz. Mice have an audible range from 1000 to 91000 Hz, and the beluga whale\u2019s audible range is from 1000 to 123000 Hz. Our pet dogs and cats have audible ranges of about 70\u201345000 Hz and 45\u201364000 Hz, respectively (Strain, 2003).<\/p>\r\n The loudness<\/strong> of a given sound is closely associated with the amplitude of the sound wave. Higher amplitudes are associated with louder sounds. Loudness is measured in terms of decibels<\/strong> (dB), a logarithmic unit of sound intensity.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n A typical conversation would correlate with 60 dB; a rock concert might check in at 120 dB. A whisper 5 feet away or rustling leaves are at the low end of our hearing range; sounds like a window air conditioner, a normal conversation, and even heavy traffic or a vacuum cleaner are within a tolerable range.<\/p>\r\n However, there is the potential for hearing damage from about 80 dB to 130 dB: These include the sounds of a food processor, power lawnmower, heavy truck (25 feet away), subway train (20 feet away), live rock music, and a jackhammer. About one-third of all hearing loss is due to noise exposure, and the louder the sound, the shorter the exposure needed to cause hearing damage (Le, Straatman, Lea, & Westerberg, 2017). Listening to music through earbuds at maximum volume (around 100\u2013105 decibels) can cause noise-induced hearing loss after 15 minutes of exposure. Although listening to music at maximum volume may not seem to cause damage, it increases the risk of age-related hearing loss (Kujawa & Liberman, 2006). The threshold for pain is about 130 dB, a jet plane taking off, or a revolver firing at close range (Dunkle, 1982).<\/p>\r\n Although wave amplitude is generally associated with loudness, there is some interaction between frequency and amplitude in our perception of loudness within the audible range. For example, a 10 Hz sound wave is inaudible no matter the amplitude of the wave. A 1000 Hz sound wave, on the other hand, would vary dramatically in terms of perceived loudness as the amplitude of the wave increased.<\/p>\r\n Of course, different musical instruments can play the same musical note at the same level of loudness, yet they still sound quite different. This is known as the timbre of a sound.<\/p>\r\n Timbre<\/strong> refers to a sound\u2019s purity, and it is affected by the complex interplay of frequency, amplitude, and timing of sound waves.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n As mentioned previously, the vibration of the tympanic membrane is what triggers\u00a0the sequence of events that lead to our perception of sound. Sound waves travel into our ears at various speeds and amplitudes. Like light waves, the physical properties of sound waves are associated with various aspects of our perception of sound.<\/p>\n The frequency of a sound wave is associated with our perception of that sound\u2019s pitch<\/strong>. High-frequency sound waves are perceived as high-pitched sounds, while low-frequency sound waves are perceived as low-pitched sounds. The audible range of sound frequencies is between 20 and 20000 Hz, with greatest sensitivity to those frequencies that fall in the middle of this range.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n As was the case with the visible spectrum, other species show differences in their audible ranges. For instance, chickens have a very limited audible range, from 125 to 2000 Hz. Mice have an audible range from 1000 to 91000 Hz, and the beluga whale\u2019s audible range is from 1000 to 123000 Hz. Our pet dogs and cats have audible ranges of about 70\u201345000 Hz and 45\u201364000 Hz, respectively (Strain, 2003).<\/p>\n The loudness<\/strong> of a given sound is closely associated with the amplitude of the sound wave. Higher amplitudes are associated with louder sounds. Loudness is measured in terms of decibels<\/strong> (dB), a logarithmic unit of sound intensity.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n A typical conversation would correlate with 60 dB; a rock concert might check in at 120 dB. A whisper 5 feet away or rustling leaves are at the low end of our hearing range; sounds like a window air conditioner, a normal conversation, and even heavy traffic or a vacuum cleaner are within a tolerable range.<\/p>\n However, there is the potential for hearing damage from about 80 dB to 130 dB: These include the sounds of a food processor, power lawnmower, heavy truck (25 feet away), subway train (20 feet away), live rock music, and a jackhammer. About one-third of all hearing loss is due to noise exposure, and the louder the sound, the shorter the exposure needed to cause hearing damage (Le, Straatman, Lea, & Westerberg, 2017). Listening to music through earbuds at maximum volume (around 100\u2013105 decibels) can cause noise-induced hearing loss after 15 minutes of exposure. Although listening to music at maximum volume may not seem to cause damage, it increases the risk of age-related hearing loss (Kujawa & Liberman, 2006). The threshold for pain is about 130 dB, a jet plane taking off, or a revolver firing at close range (Dunkle, 1982).<\/p>\n Although wave amplitude is generally associated with loudness, there is some interaction between frequency and amplitude in our perception of loudness within the audible range. For example, a 10 Hz sound wave is inaudible no matter the amplitude of the wave. A 1000 Hz sound wave, on the other hand, would vary dramatically in terms of perceived loudness as the amplitude of the wave increased.<\/p>\n Of course, different musical instruments can play the same musical note at the same level of loudness, yet they still sound quite different. This is known as the timbre of a sound.<\/p>\n Timbre<\/strong> refers to a sound\u2019s purity, and it is affected by the complex interplay of frequency, amplitude, and timing of sound waves.<\/p>\n<\/section>\nloudness<\/h3>\r\n
![\"This](\"https:\/\/content-cdn.one.lumenlearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/03\/20223009\/255ec68e0303670d7d90ced1985b7a4f83cf1373.jpeg\")
Figure 1.<\/strong> This figure illustrates the loudness of common sounds. (credit \"planes\": modification of work by Max Pfandl; credit \"crowd\": modification of work by Christian Holm\u00e9r; credit: \"earbuds\": modification of work by \"Skinny Guy Lover_Flickr\"\/Flickr; credit \"traffic\": modification of work by \"quinntheislander_Pixabay\"\/Pixabay; credit \"talking\": modification of work by Joi Ito; credit \"leaves\": modification of work by Aurelijus Valei\u0161a)[\/caption]\r\n<\/figure>\r\ntimbre<\/h3>\r\n
Sound Waves<\/h2>\n
pitch<\/h3>\n
loudness<\/h3>\n
timbre<\/h3>\n