from 16 Hz up to as high as 30,000 Hz (also written as 30 KHz). The average young
adult can hear sounds from 20 to 20,000 Hz, although as a practical matter, few adults
can hear sounds whose frequency exceeds 11,000 Hz (11 KHz).
c. Intensity. Intensity is a measure of the rate of energy passing through a unit
area. It is measured in decibels (dB or dbs). Loudness is the observer's impression of
the sound intensity received.
d. Tone. A tone is an acoustic stimulus (sound), whose pressure varies in a
perfectly periodic manner. If there is only one component whose pressure varies in a
simple sinusoidal (like a sine wave) manner, it is called a "pure tone"; if it can be
analyzed into several such components, it is termed a "complex tone."
Figure 3-1. Anatomy of the human ear.
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