The generally accepted standard hearing range for humans is 20 to 20,000 Hz.[2][3][4] In air at atmospheric pressure, these represent sound waves with wavelengths of 17 metres (56 ft) to 1.7 centimetres (0.67 in). Frequencies below 20 Hz are generally felt rather than heard, assuming the amplitude of the vibration is great enough. Sound frequencies above 20 kHz are called ultrasonic.
Sound propagates as mechanical vibration waves of pressure and displacement, in air or other substances.[5] In general, frequency components of a sound determine its "color", its timbre. When speaking about the frequency (in singular) of a sound, it means the property that most determines its pitch.[6] Higher pitches have higher frequency, and lower pitches are lower frequency.
The frequencies an ear can hear are limited to a specific range of frequencies. The audible frequency range for humans is typically given as being between about 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz), though the high frequency limit usually reduces with age. Other species have different hearing ranges. For example, some dog breeds can perceive vibrations up to 60,000 Hz.[7]
In many media, such as air, the speed of sound is approximately independent of frequency, so the wavelength of the sound waves (distance between repetitions) is approximately inversely proportional to frequency.
Gives presence to speech, where labial and fricative sounds lie.
8,192 to 16,384
10th
Brilliance, the sounds of bells and the ringing of cymbals and sibilance in speech.
16,384 to 32,768
11th
Beyond brilliance, nebulous sounds approaching and just passing the upper human threshold of hearing
Oscillogram of a pure tonemiddle C (262 Hz). (Scale: 1 square is equal to 1 millisecond)C5, an octave above middle C. The frequency is twice that of middle C (523 Hz).C3, an octave below middle C. The frequency is half that of middle C (131 Hz).
^Heffner, Henry; Heffner, Rickye (January 2007). "Hearing Ranges of Laboratory Animals". Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. 46 (1): 20–2. PMID17203911. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
^Rosen, Stuart (2011). Signals and Systems for Speech and Hearing (2nd ed.). BRILL. p. 163. For auditory signals and human listeners, the accepted range is 20Hz to 20kHz, the limits of human hearing
