Talk:Sound

Grammar Edit

The line "Other species have a different range of hearing" needs to become "Other species have different ranges of hearing" because the various species have different respective ranges of hearing and not just one single range. This is just a simple edit that I thought someone should change. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 174.49.11.210 (talk) 00:46, 25 May 2012‎ (UTC)

Biotremology

I recommend to insert biotremology, beside bioacoustics, as a new discipline of animal communication. Thanks Valerio7519 (talk) 12:26, 28 April 2021 (UTC)

Should or shouldn't Duration go under Physics?

If sound is just pressure and time, why or why not? I don't know and I can't paste. Think about it. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:12, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

Duration is certainly part of physics. Something about duration could be placed there.

The text about duration in the Perception section talks about how the listening experience length may differ from the actual duration, so that stuff is relevant where it is. Binksternet (talk) 03:39, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

Teeth clenching sound in head

Teeth clenching sound in head is loud enough to cause a concern? 119.56.108.134 (talk) 23:58, 23 June 2022 (UTC)

Questions belong to the WP:Reference desk. (CC) Tbhotch^™ 00:02, 24 June 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 August 2022

you should correct the spelling gases and make it gasses 72.69.184.246 (talk) 16:40, 25 August 2022 (UTC)

 Done RudolfRed (talk) 19:19, 25 August 2022 (UTC)

Can a lamp be lit by sound or not?

In olden days, people used to say that the lamps used to get burnt due to sound, is this true?You guys think and tell.Is it possible that a lamp can be lit with sound? Vivekpro (talk) 15:40, 10 March 2023 (UTC)

Proposed merge of Sound unit into Sound

non-trivial overlap. fgnievinski (talk) 23:02, 13 August 2023 (UTC) fgnievinski (talk) 23:02, 13 August 2023 (UTC)

• Support ~Kvng (talk) 17:33, 17 August 2023 (UTC)

Support Rburtonresearch (talk) 07:56, 21 September 2023 (UTC)

  Y Merge completed Klbrain (talk) 11:43, 29 September 2023 (UTC)

Recent addition might need editing

The sentence "Studies have shown that sound waves are able to carry a tiny amount of mass and is surrounded by a weak gravitational field." in the Physics section contradicts what is previously said in the article, that being "The particles of the medium do not travel with the sound wave."

Also its reference is titled differently than the article it links to. Endermenace31 (talk) 00:14, 20 August 2025 (UTC)

It was added over a year ago. I don't know whether it's a contradiction, but I've corrected the headline. Belbury (talk) 07:03, 20 August 2025 (UTC)

"Sonida" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Sonida has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 October 15 § Sonida until a consensus is reached. consarn _{(talck) (contirbuton s)} 20:03, 15 October 2025 (UTC)

Refining this article

Hi all.
I’ve identified several issues in the article (redundancy, poor language, conceptual conflation, and some inaccuracies in the physics section). Below I've outlined the issues section‑by‑section and have proposed improved versions with wikitext.

Top
The main problem I see here is the misleading and inaccurate definition of sound, below is the current definition and I'll elaborate on the problems I see with it.

In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.

Sound is not a vibration, it is a wave (as has been properly clarified in the Physics section). Sound propagates throughout a transmission medium, thus making it a wave by definition (i.e. In mathematics and physical science, a wave is a propagating dynamic disturbance (change from equilibrium) of one or more quantities.). Likely, this confusion arises both due to there always being much conflation between oscillations and waves (which I have brought up before on the waves article) as well as how vibrations produce periodic sound waves (and vice versa).

As has also been clarified in the physics section, sound propagates through all matter rather than only in the three states mentioned.

What I will say though is that the rest of the top section is adequate (in my opinion, the physiological-psychological definition is virtually perfect for the introduction).

Definition
Sound is defined as "(a) Oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement, particle velocity, etc., propagated in a medium with internal forces (e.g., elastic or viscous), or the superposition of such propagated oscillation. (b) Auditory sensation evoked by the oscillation described in (a)."

It's good that a standard, official definition is being presented, but it'd be beneficial clarifying that it is merely the technical standard established by ANSI/ASA S1.1-2013 rather than a fixed, invariable definition no matter the context. And, as is present in this definition, oscillatory conflation is further worsened.

Sound can be viewed as a wave motion in air or other elastic media. In this case, sound is a stimulus. Sound can also be viewed as an excitation of the hearing mechanism that results in the perception of sound. In this case, sound is a sensation.

This is alright, however the further elaborations are slightly more catered for physiology rather than to physics.

Acoustics
Mostly decent, but it'd be better to use "gases" rather than "gasses" and the first sentence just is a bit off grammatically.

Physics
This section isn't too bad, aside from

• A few not so correct sentences, such as:

- As the source continues to vibrate the medium, the vibrations propagate away from the source at the speed of sound, thus forming the sound wave., vibrations don't propagate (waves do).

-The energy carried by an oscillating sound wave converts back and forth between the potential energy of the extra compression (in case of longitudinal waves) or lateral displacement strain (in case of transverse waves) of the matter, and the kinetic energy of the displacement velocity of particles of the medium., the sound waves don't oscillate and this statement only applies to sound waves with sinusoidal waveforms.

-The mechanical vibrations that can be interpreted as sound), simply incorrect (for reasons I've already brought up).

• Some redundancy, for example

-"Sound requires a medium to propagate"
-"Sound can't propagate in a vacuum"
-"Sound in solids can be longitudinal or transverse"

are repeated 2-3 times, whether directly or indirectly.

• One or two weak sentences, for example "In order to understand the sound more fully, ...".

If these were fixed up, this section would be excellent.

Other sections
There's nothing wrong with the frequency section, but it kinda just repeats what has already been stated (i.e. infrasound, ultrasound and the fact that the human ear is sensitive to sounds in the range of 20 Hz - 20 kHz).

I am not particularly knowledgeable in sensory physiology, but the perception section looks fine to me.

Improved Version: Top
Sound is a phenomenon in which pressure disturbances propagate through a transmission medium. In the context of physics, it is characterised as a mechanical wave of pressure or related quantities (e.g. displacement), whereas in physiological-psychological contexts it refers to the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain. Though sensitivity to sound varies among all organisms, the human ear is sensitive to frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Examples of the significance and application of sound include music, medical imaging techniques, oral language and parts of science.

'''Sound''' is a [[phenomenon]] in which [[pressure]] disturbances propagate through a [[transmission medium]]. In the context of [[physics]], it is characterised as a [[mechanical wave]] of pressure or related quantities (e.g. [[displacement]]), whereas in [[Physiology|physiological]]-[[Psychology|psychological]] contexts it refers to the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the [[brain]].<ref>{{cite book |publisher=Western Electrical Company |title=Fundamentals of Telephone Communication Systems |date=1969 |page=2.1}}</ref> Though sensitivity to sound varies among all organisms, the human ear is sensitive to [[Frequency|frequencies]] ranging from 20 [[Hertz|Hz]] to 20 kHz. Examples of the significance and application of sound include [[Music|music]], [[medical imaging]] techniques, [[oral language]] and parts of [[science]].

Improved Version: Definition
According to the technical standard established by ANSI/ASA S1.1-2013, the American National Standard for Acoustical Terminology, sound is defined as:

"(a) Oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement, particle velocity, etc., propagated in a medium with internal forces (e.g., elastic or viscous), or the superposition of such propagated oscillation.

(b) Auditory sensation evoked by the oscillation described in (a)."

This two-part definition of sound states that sound can be taken as a wave motion in an elastic medium, making it also a stimulus, or as an excitation of the hearing mechanism that results in the perception of sound, making it a sensation.

According to the technical standard established by ANSI/ASA S1.1-2013, the American National Standard for Acoustical Terminology, sound is defined as: 
:"(a) [[Oscillation]]  in pressure, stress, particle displacement, particle velocity, etc., propagated in a medium with internal forces (e.g., elastic or viscous), or the superposition of such propagated oscillation. 
:(b) Auditory sensation evoked by the oscillation described in (a)."<ref>[[ANSI/ASA S1.1-2013]]</ref> 

This two-part definition of sound states that sound can be taken as a wave motion in an elastic medium, making it also a [[Stimulus (physiology)|stimulus]], or as an excitation of the hearing mechanism that results in the perception of sound, making it a [[sensation]].

Improved Version: Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary scientific study of mechanical waves, vibrations, sound, ultrasound, and infrasound in gaseous, liquid, or solid media. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is called an acoustician, while an individual specialising in acoustical engineering may be referred to as an acoustical engineer. An audio engineer, by contrast, is concerned with the recording, manipulation, mixing, and reproduction of sound.

Applications of acoustics are found in many areas of modern society. Subdisciplines include aeroacoustics, audio signal processing, architectural acoustics, bioacoustics, electroacoustics, environmental noise, musical acoustics, noise control, psychoacoustics, speech, ultrasound, underwater acoustics, and vibration.

Acoustics is the interdisciplinary scientific study of [[mechanical wave]]s, [[vibration]]s, [[sound]], [[ultrasound]], and [[infrasound]] in gaseous, liquid, or solid media. A scientist who works in the field of [[acoustics]] is called an ''acoustician'', while an individual specialising in [[acoustical engineering]] may be referred to as an ''acoustical engineer''.<ref>ANSI S1.1‑1994. American National Standard: Acoustic Terminology. Sec. 3.03.</ref> An [[audio engineer]], by contrast, is concerned with the recording, manipulation, mixing, and reproduction of sound.

Applications of acoustics are found in many areas of modern society. Subdisciplines include [[aeroacoustics]], [[audio signal processing]], [[architectural acoustics]], [[bioacoustics]], [[electroacoustics]], [[environmental noise]], [[musical acoustics]], [[noise control]], [[psychoacoustics]], [[speech]], [[ultrasound]], [[underwater acoustics]], and [[vibration]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Acoustical Society of America |title=PACS 2010 Regular Edition—Acoustics Appendix |url=http://www.aip.org/pacs/pacs2010/individuals/pacs2010_regular_edition/reg_acoustics_appendix.htm |access-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514111126/http://www.aip.org/pacs/pacs2010/individuals/pacs2010_regular_edition/reg_acoustics_appendix.htm |archive-date=14 May 2013 }}</ref>

Improved Version: Physics
Sound travels as a mechanical wave through a medium (e.g. water, crystals, air, etc). Sound waves are generated by a sound source, such as a vibrating diaphragm of a loudspeaker. As the sound source vibrates the surrounding medium, mechanical disturbances propagate away from the source at the local speed of sound, thus resulting in a sound wave. At a fixed distance from the source, the pressure, velocity, and displacement of the medium's particles vary in time. At an instant in time, the pressure, velocity, and displacement vary spatially. The particles of the medium do not travel with the sound wave; instead, the disturbance and its mechanical energy propagate through the medium. Though intuitively obvious for solids, this also applies for liquids and gases. During propagation, waves can be reflected, refracted, or attenuated by the medium.

The matter that supports the transmission of a sound is named the transmission medium. Media may be any form of matter, whether solids, liquids, gases or plasmas. However, sound cannot propagate through a vacuum because there is no medium to support mechanical disturbances.

The propagation of sound in a medium is influenced primarily by:

• A complicated relationship between the density and pressure of the medium. This relationship, also affected by temperature, determines the speed of sound within the medium.
• Motion of the medium itself. If the medium is moving, this movement may increase or decrease the absolute speed of the sound wave depending on the direction of the movement. For example, sound moving through wind will have its speed of propagation increased by the speed of the wind if the sound and wind are moving in the same direction. If the sound and wind are moving in opposite directions, the speed of the sound wave will be decreased by the speed of the wind.
• The viscosity of the medium. Medium viscosity determines the rate at which sound is attenuated. For many media, such as air or water, attenuation due to viscosity is negligible.

When sound is moving through a medium that isn't uniform in its physical properties, it may be refracted (either dispersed or focused).

Some theoretical work suggests that sound waves may carry an extremely small effective mass and be associated with a weak gravitational field.

Sound travels as a mechanical wave through a medium (e.g. water, crystals, air, etc). Sound waves are generated by a sound source, such as a vibrating [[Diaphragm (acoustics)|diaphragm]] of a loudspeaker. As the sound source vibrates the surrounding medium, mechanical disturbances propagate away from the source at the local [[speed of sound]], thus resulting in a sound wave. At a fixed distance from the source, the [[pressure]], [[velocity]], and displacement of the medium's particles vary in [[time]]. At an instant in time, the pressure, velocity, and displacement vary spatially. The particles of the medium do not travel with the sound wave; instead, the disturbance and its [[mechanical energy]] propagate through the medium. Though intuitively obvious for solids, this also applies for liquids and gases. During propagation, waves can be [[Reflection (physics)|reflected]], [[Refraction|refracted]], or [[Attenuation|attenuated]] by the medium.<ref name="JHU">{{cite web |url=http://pages.jh.edu/~virtlab/ray/acoustic.htm |title=The Propagation of sound |access-date=26 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430054640/http://pages.jh.edu/~virtlab/ray/acoustic.htm |archive-date=30 April 2015 }}</ref>

The matter that supports the transmission of a sound is named the [[transmission medium]]. Media may be any [[state of matter|form of matter]], whether solids, liquids, gases or [[Plasma (physics)|plasmas]]. However, sound cannot propagate through a [[vacuum]] because there is no medium to support mechanical disturbances.<ref>[http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/1-is-there-sound-in-space.html Is there sound in space?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016010300/http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/1-is-there-sound-in-space.html |date=2017-10-16 }} Northwestern University.</ref><ref>[https://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/150-people-in-astronomy/space-exploration-and-astronauts/general-questions/918-can-you-hear-sounds-in-space-beginner Can you hear sounds in space? (Beginner)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618062312/http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/about-us/150-people-in-astronomy/space-exploration-and-astronauts/general-questions/918-can-you-hear-sounds-in-space-beginner |date=2017-06-18 }}. Cornell University.</ref>

The propagation of sound in a medium is influenced primarily by:
* A complicated relationship between the [[density]] and pressure of the medium. This relationship, also affected by temperature, determines the speed of sound within the medium.
* Motion of the medium itself. If the medium is moving, this movement may increase or decrease the absolute speed of the sound wave depending on the direction of the movement. For example, sound moving through wind will have its speed of propagation increased by the speed of the wind if the sound and wind are moving in the same direction. If the sound and wind are moving in opposite directions, the speed of the sound wave will be decreased by the speed of the wind.
* The viscosity of the medium. Medium [[viscosity]] determines the rate at which sound is attenuated. For many media, such as air or water, attenuation due to viscosity is negligible.

When sound is moving through a medium that isn't uniform in its physical properties, it may be [[refracted]] (either dispersed or focused).<ref name="JHU" />

Some theoretical work suggests that sound waves may carry an extremely small effective mass and be associated with a weak [[gravitational field]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=More evidence of sound waves carrying mass |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-03-evidence-mass.html |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=phys.org |date=6 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Sound is transmitted through fluids (e.g. gases, plasmas, and liquids) as longitudinal waves, also called compression waves. Through solids, however, sound can be transmitted as both longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Longitudinal sound waves are waves of alternating pressure deviations from the equilibrium pressure, causing local regions of compression and rarefaction, while transverse waves (in solids) are waves of alternating shear stress perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Unlike longitudinal sound waves, transverse sound waves have the property of polarisation.

Sound waves may be viewed using parabolic mirrors and objects that produce sound.

The energy carried by a periodic sound wave alternates between the potential energy of the extra compression (in the case of longitudinal waves) or lateral displacement strain (in the case of transverse waves) of the matter, and the kinetic energy of the particles' displacement velocity in the medium.

Although sound transmission involves many physical processes, the signal received at a point (such as a microphone or the ear) can be fully described as a time‑varying pressure. This pressure‑versus‑time waveform provides a complete representation of any sound or audio signal detected at that location.

Sound waves are often simplified as sinusoidal plane waves, which are characterized by these generic properties:

• Frequency, or its inverse, period.
• Wavelength, or its inverse, wavenumber.
• Amplitude, sound pressure or Intensity
• Speed of sound
• Direction

Sometimes speed and direction are combined as a velocity vector; wave number and direction are combined as a wave vector.

To analyse audio, a complicated waveform—such as the one shown on the right—can be represented as a linear combination of sinusoidal components of different frequencies, amplitudes, and phases.

Sound is transmitted through fluids (e.g. gases, plasmas, and liquids) as [[longitudinal wave]]s, also called [[compression (physical)|compression]] waves. Through solids, however, sound can be transmitted as both longitudinal waves and [[transverse wave]]s. Longitudinal sound waves are waves of alternating [[pressure]] deviations from the [[Mechanical equilibrium|equilibrium]] pressure, causing local regions of [[compression (physical)|compression]] and [[rarefaction]], while [[transverse wave]]s (in solids) are waves of alternating [[shear stress]] perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Unlike longitudinal sound waves, transverse sound waves have the property of ''polarisation''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://labman.phys.utk.edu/phys222core/modules/m6/polarization.html|title=Polarization|website=Elements of Physics II|publisher=The University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy|last=Breinig|first=Marianne|access-date=4 March 2024}}</ref>

Sound waves may be viewed using parabolic mirrors and objects that produce sound.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Does Sound Look Like? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px3oVGXr4mo |work=NPR | date=9 April 2014 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=9 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410064648/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px3oVGXr4mo |archive-date=10 April 2014 }}</ref>

The energy carried by a [[Periodic function|periodic]] sound wave alternates between the potential energy of the extra [[compression (physical)|compression]] (in the case of longitudinal waves) or lateral displacement [[Strain (materials science)|strain]] (in the case of transverse waves) of the matter, and the kinetic energy of the particles' displacement velocity in the medium.

Although sound transmission involves many physical processes, the [[signal]] received at a point (such as a microphone or the ear) can be fully described as a time‑varying pressure. This pressure‑versus‑time waveform provides a complete representation of any sound or audio signal detected at that location.

Sound [[wave]]s are often simplified as [[Sine wave|sinusoidal]] [[plane wave]]s, which are characterized by these generic properties:
* [[Frequency]], or its inverse, period.
*[[Wavelength]], or its inverse, [[wavenumber]].
* [[Amplitude]], [[sound pressure]] or [[Sound intensity|Intensity]]
* [[Speed of sound]]
* [[Direction (geometry, geography)|Direction]]

Sometimes speed and direction are combined as a [[velocity]] [[Vector (geometric)|vector]]; wave number and direction are combined as a [[wave vector]].

To analyse audio, a complicated [[waveform]]—such as the one shown on the right—can be represented as a [[linear combination]] of sinusoidal components of different frequencies, [[amplitudes]], and [[phases]].<ref name="Handel, S. 1995">Handel, S. (1995). [https://books.google.com/books?id=OywDx9pxCMYC&dq=%22Timbre+perception+and+auditory+object+identification%22&pg=PA425 Timbre perception and auditory object identification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110135929/https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=OywDx9pxCMYC&oi=fnd&pg=PA425&dq=%22Timbre+perception+and+auditory+object+identification%22&ots=P_6L53f1rX&sig=UF2k3GyEzCF1rOnDKHhgeA2MyJc |date=2020-01-10 }}. Hearing, 425–461.</ref><ref name="Kendall, R. A. 1986">Kendall, R.A. (1986). The role of acoustic signal partitions in listener categorization of musical phrases. Music Perception, 185–213.</ref><ref name="Matthews, M. 1999 pp. 79-88">Matthews, M. (1999). Introduction to timbre. In P.R. Cook (Ed.), Music, cognition, and computerized sound: An introduction to psychoacoustic (pp. 79–88). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT press.</ref>

Final Note
I hope these proposals help improve the quality of the article.
If you notice any mistakes or areas that need adjustment, please let me know.
Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 14:54, 3 January 2026 (UTC)

These clarifications seem reasonable to me. To me, the conflation of sound wave and vibration is problematic because a vibration is associated with a localized transmitter or receiver, whereas the sound wave propagates in a medium. The loudspeaker cone vibrates in air, producing a sound wave. But there can be a vibration without a sound wave, e.g., the loudspeaker cone vibrating in a vacuum. It's not really about oscillation, they are different entities. --{{u|Mark viking}} {Talk} 12:30, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Thank you, @Mark viking.

Your feedback is much appreciated. The example you gave demonstrates the distinction very clearly and aligns well with what the proposed revisions aim to clarify.

I think it’s best to let some more consensus develop before any major changes to the article are made.

Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 13:55, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Your statement "Frequency, or its inverse, wavelength" is wrong. The inverse of frequency is period. The inverse of wavelength is wave-number.

The article should either state that shock waves are sound or that they are not. I think that a negative shock (sudden non-recurring drop in pressure) would definitely qualify as sound. JRSpriggs (talk) 15:26, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Thanks for pointing that out — frequency and wavelength are related through the wave speed, but they aren’t mathematical inverses. I’ll revise that part of the draft accordingly.

The article currently doesn’t address them, and it would be useful to clarify whether—and in what sense—they fall within the scope of “sound.” That might be best handled in a separate talk topic so the issue can be considered on its own.

Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 21:23, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Update:

Having posted a request for feedback on WP:Physics three days ago, I have received two pieces of feedback: one expressing support and another offering a correction (which I have incorporated).

To catalyse progress (per WP:BE BOLD), I will announce the following:

If no objections are raised in the next 24–72 hours, I will proceed with publishing the refined version of the definition. I will also notify WikiProject Acoustics to invite additional expert input and ensure the change receives broader subject‑matter review.

Editors who later encounter this change are, of course, welcome to continue the discussion or propose further improvements.

Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 02:45, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

Hi all.

With no objections raised for ~2 days, I’ve now implemented the refined revisions to the article, along with some improvements to keep things orderly.

As I've said before, any concerns or suggestions can be discussed here.

Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 11:33, 16 January 2026 (UTC)

Extra note:

Hey everyone, I've also refined the loudness section so as to balance out informativeness of image caption vs section prose as well as to prevent the section's image displacing the timber section's image so much.

Kind regards, Xyqorophibian (talk) 10:12, 18 January 2026 (UTC)