Sound Vocabulary I
A back and forth motion
What is a frequency?
The number of vibrations per second that a sound wave has
This part of your ear gathers sound waves
The outer ear, known as the pinna
A low or high sound
pitch
What is a sound wave?
A wave that transfers energy through matter, and spreads out in all directions
What does sound need to travel through? Give examples.
It needs a medium or matter to travel through. Examples are solids, liquids, and gases.
How is frequency measured?
in Hertz = abbreviated Hz
This part of your ear sends messages to your brain, which translates what you hear
The auditory nerve
A loud or soft sound
volume
What is an echo?
A reflected sound wave
What is absorption?
When a sound wave soaks into a surface. (It's usually soft, and it makes the sound quieter)
What is volume?
How loud or how soft a sound is
This part of your ear doesn't help with hearing, but it's important for your balance!
the semi-circular canals
A quiet whisper has 20 decibels. A rock concert has 120 decibels. Which one has the higher amplitude?
The rock concert!
What is a wavelength?
The distance from one PEAK of a wave to another.
What are rarefactions?
The regions of air that have fewer particles, and the particles are more spread apart.
How is volume measured?
In decibels = abbreviated dB
This is the first part of the ear that vibrates when sound enters the ear.
The eardrum
What medium does sound travel the fastest through?
Solid
What is echolocation?
What some animals that can's see very well use to locate their prey (examples = bats, dolphins, & whales)
What are compressions?
Regions of air that have many particles, and the particles are close together
What is the name of the device used for measuring sound waves?
Oscilloscope
This is the part of the ear that is filled with fluid and tiny hairs. It looks like a snail.
The cochlea
What does SONAR stand for?
SOund Navigation And Ranging
What is the doppler effect?
A change in frequency produced by moving toward or away from a sound wave (example = ambulance)