PSYC 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Sound Pressure, Phon, Logarithmic Scale

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 212
• Professor: Mathieu Roy

Document Summary

The main determinant is the amplitude of waveform loudness is generally measured in decibels. They are always relative to the smallest pressure perceivable db are. The reason why we need to square the pressure when calculating intensity: sound waves propagate in. Intensity corresponds to the energy of the sound wave when it hits a 2d surface, like the eardrum: most important to remember: db scale is relative to smallest pressure perceivable and it is a logarithmic scale. Pitch= the psychological aspect of sound related mainly to the fundamental frequency. The frequency (hz) = number of cycles per second. E. g. is there are 2 cycles in a second, the frequency is 2hz. Higher frequencies will be associated with high pitches, and vice versa. Sounds that only have one frequency are called pure tones. Audibility of a sound is due to a mix of frequency and amplitude.