PSYC 2390 Chapter Notes -Eardrum, Ear Canal, Sine Wave
1 Aug 2013
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Document Summary
Sound is mechanical energy: travels at around 340 m/s through air. Occurs when molecules bump up against each other. Air molecules bump into each other all the way into molecules in ear. Compression: molecules are close together than normal (dense, increase in air pressure) Rarefaction: molecules are farther apart than normal (decreased density, causes slight decrease in air pressure. Plot normal air pressure vs. time: go from having above normal air pressure (compression) to lower than normal air pressure (rarefaction) and back to above normal etc. Measured in force per unit squared area: force can be measured in dyne (force needed to accelerate 1 gram at 1 cm per second per second) Pure tone: when pressure changes in the air occur in pattern described by mathematical function (sine wave) Height of wave (half height of wave) Corresponds to loudness of sound (volume: bigger the amplitude, the louder the sound.
