How Long Does Sound Take to Travel from the Voicebox to the Ear?

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The discussion centers on the time delay between sound production in the voicebox and its registration by the ear. Clarification is sought on what "registering" means, whether it refers to awareness of sound or the sound reaching the ear. A rough estimate suggests that sound travels through bone at approximately 2500 m/s, covering the distance of about 13 cm from the voicebox to the middle ear in roughly 50 microseconds. Variations in bone composition can affect this estimate. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities of measuring sound transmission within the human body.
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Hi all

Does anyone know the time delay through the head between the voicebox producing sound and the ear registering it?

Thanks in advance

Dave
 
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Well, what does "registering" mean? The time that the person should become aware of the sound, or simply the time the sound reaches the ear end of the auric nerve(s)? Also, I think you should specify the center of the voicebox. It would make a big difference if you are interested in the edge of the voicebox nearest the nearest ear instead.

In any case, I dunno, sorry.
 
A very quick estimate of the speed of sound through bone is about 2500 m/s (speed of sound through solids is equal to the square root of the ("young's modulus" over the density) or sqrt (Y/rho). Young's modulus of bone is about 10^10 N/m^2.

It's about 13 cm from the voicebox to the middle ear (give or take a cm), so sound will get there in about 50 microseconds. The composition (densities and elasticities) of bone varies through the body, so this is just a rough estimate.
 
Good answer Chi Meson!
 
Thanks so much for the reply Chi

Regards

Dave
 

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