CDIS 4213 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Logarithmic Scale, Mathematical Table, Decibel

• School: University of Arkansas
• Department: Communication Disorders
• Course: CDIS 4213
• Professor: Mary Toner

Document Summary

To create sound, the vibrating object must be surrounded by something, like air or water, that will transmit the sound to a receiver (like the ear). The surrounding substance carries the sound by vibration of its particles. As a sound is transmitted, a circle of molecules around the source is displaced. When a molecule circle comes in contact with the next circle of molecules, we have an area where the molecules are closer together than they are in other parts of the medium. These are called areas of compression or condensation. Because we have created areas where the molecules are condensed, we have also created areas where the molecules are few and far between -- many of the molecules have moved to the compression area. The areas where there are few molecules or the molecules are far apart are called areas of rarefaction. As the sound travels away from the source, alternating areas of compression and rarefaction appear, like waves.