Tag: acoustics
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Something that Resonated With Me
Have you ever wondered why larger musical instruments, like cellos, have a lower pitch than smaller instruments, like violins? This size-pitch relationship is caused by resonance, which refers to an object’s ability to oscillate with larger amplitudes at certain frequencies (National Science Foundation, 2023). Each object has its own resonant frequency: the frequency at which…
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Your Ears Are Whispering
Your eyes do not produce light, nor does your tongue have a flavour, but your ears do make sounds! In 1978, acoustician David Kemp inserted a miniature microphone into a human ear canal and, for the first time, recorded nearly inaudible sounds originating from the inner ear (Kemp, 1978). These sounds have since been called…
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Phantom Sounds in the Pandemic
Do you ever hear a sudden ringing in your ears that no one else does? You are not alone. In fact, roughly 10% of American adults experience this chronic condition called tinnitus (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), 2017). Tinnitus is often distressing as it disrupts focus and relaxation. To make matters…