Can all Earth sounds be heard if amplified enough?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the audibility of sounds when amplified, specifically questioning whether sounds made by small creatures, like a fly, can be heard if amplified sufficiently. Participants confirm that if the frequencies fall within the human auditory range, amplification can make them audible, similar to sound reinforcement systems used in large venues. However, they also note that excessive amplification may lead to hearing damage. Ultimately, while amplification can enhance faint sounds, environmental noise may mask them.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of human auditory range and frequency limits
  • Knowledge of sound reinforcement systems and their applications
  • Familiarity with sound wave propagation and air pressure differentials
  • Basic principles of acoustics and environmental noise
NEXT STEPS
  • Research sound reinforcement techniques in large venues
  • Explore the effects of sound amplification on hearing health
  • Learn about the human auditory range and its limitations
  • Investigate the principles of sound wave propagation in different environments
USEFUL FOR

Acoustics enthusiasts, audio engineers, sound designers, and anyone interested in the physics of sound and its amplification.

ValenceE
Messages
142
Reaction score
0
Hello to all,

I've been wondering about sound waves for a while, and here's one question that came up...

Is there a natural limit to sounds being in the audible range... I mean, if we amplify the sounds (edit: the air pressure differences , since I'm not sure they would fall in the sound category) made by a fly 'walking' on some surface, will it be audible ?

Are all Earth sounds audible if amplified enough ?

I know this is a bit crude but I'm sure you get the point ...


Regards,

VE
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
There is a range of frequencies that we hear, too high of a frequency, and we don't hear it. Dogs hear higher frequencies than us, elephants can hear lower frequencies than us. Kind of just like light, we can't see UV or radio.
 
TR... I'm aware of that but my question still stands, could we hear the fly movin about ?

I'm not wording this question in a proper way, but, I guess what I mean to ask is; if any pressure differential is in the audible frequency range, provided we amplify it enough, we should be able to hear it shouldn't we ?...


VE
 
ValenceE said:
TR... I'm aware of that but my question still stands, could we hear the fly movin about ?

I'm not wording this question in a proper way, but, I guess what I mean to ask is; if any pressure differential is in the audible frequency range, provided we amplify it enough, we should be able to hear it shouldn't we ?...


VE

Yes. If the frequencies are in the auditory range of the human ear. That's why sound reinforcement is necessary in certain applications, aside from some relatively small amphitheaters that are designed acoustically to disperse sound from the stage to the audience. If I'm on the far side of a 100,000-person capacity stadium, there's no way I could hear someone speaking at normal conversation level or playing an acoustic instrument on a stage without sound reinforcement. Sound reinforcement makes this possible.

If you amplify the sound too much, you could quite possibly never hear anything again!
 
As long as air molecules start to move and hits your eardrum there should exist a possibility of you hearing the fly, but in reality that faint noise will disappear in the 'sea' of other moving molecules hitting your ears.

This one could be cool to read.
www . tomdukich . com/weather%20songs%20narrative.html
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
7K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
8K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
7K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K