Hertz (Hz) in sound measures the frequency of a sound wave, indicating the number of complete cycles (vibrations) that occur in one second.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
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Frequency: Frequency refers to how rapidly the air molecules vibrate back and forth. A higher frequency means the air molecules are vibrating more rapidly.
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Hertz as a Unit: The standard unit for measuring frequency is the Hertz (Hz). One Hertz (1 Hz) signifies one complete cycle of vibration per second. Therefore, a sound wave vibrating at 500 Hz completes 500 cycles every second.
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Human Hearing Range: Humans can typically hear sounds ranging from about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).
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Pitch Perception: Higher frequencies are perceived as higher pitches, while lower frequencies are perceived as lower pitches. For example, a high-pitched whistle has a much higher frequency (measured in Hertz) than a low-pitched rumble.
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Examples of Frequencies:
- The low rumble of thunder might be around 50 Hz.
- A typical human voice averages around 1000 Hz (1 kHz).
- The high-pitched whine of a mosquito can be around 17 kHz.
In summary, Hertz is the unit of measurement used to quantify the frequency of sound waves, directly influencing our perception of pitch. A higher Hertz value corresponds to a higher-pitched sound.
