Sounds and waveforms for non-geeks

Introduction: This post is the "non-geek" version of the one found here. We will explain the concepts more simply without losing the important details so that anyone can better understand how sound and sound waves work.

The "geek" post explores sound in detail, focusing on frequency, amplitude, and phase, using the wave equation. This is essential for those studying music or acoustics from a scientific perspective. For non-geeks, the post becomes relevant because it helps understand the basics of sound, enhancing the listening experience and curiosity about sound phenomena.

As a mathematician, I often think that MATH stands for "Mental Abuse To Humans." So, here we’ll try to make it friendlier!

So, what is sound?

Sound is a vibration that travels through the air in the form of waves, similar to the ripples you see on a pond. These waves can be represented as a curve called a "sine wave," which has specific characteristics that help us describe sounds.

Frequency: Frequency is the number of oscillations the wave makes in one second. The faster the wave moves, the higher the pitch of the sound, like a bird chirping. When the frequency is lower, the sound is deeper, like a lion's roar. Simply put, frequency tells us if a sound is "high" or "low."

Amplitude: Amplitude is the height of the wave, which translates into the volume of the sound. A tall wave produces a loud sound, while a shorter wave generates a quieter sound. It’s like the difference between whispering and shouting: when you whisper, the amplitude is small; when you shout, it's large.

Phase: Phase is a more challenging concept to grasp. Imagine two sound waves that start at different points. Even if they have the same height and speed, they can create different effects when combined. Phase is crucial to understand how different sounds interact, like when two musical instruments play together.

Sound wave and musical sound: A musical sound consists of simple and complex waves. The wave's shape, which can be a smooth sine wave or more irregular, is what makes each instrument's sound unique. For example, the sound of a guitar is different from that of a piano because their waves are different.

The wave equation: The "geek" post introduces the wave equation, a mathematical formula that describes how sound moves through space and time. Even without diving too deeply into the math, we can appreciate how this equation helps explain sound changes and propagation.

Sound decay: When we produce a sound, like hitting a drum, it starts loud and then slowly fades away. This phenomenon is called "sound decay" and is important to understand why some instruments have a unique sound. The "geek" post explains that this process can be modelled mathematically to better analyse the nature of sound.

Key Takeaways:

• Sound is a complex phenomenon that can be broken down into elements like frequency, amplitude, and phase.
• The wave shape contributes to the unique sound of each musical instrument.
• Frequency determines whether a sound is high-pitched or low-pitched.
• Amplitude affects the volume of the sound.
• Phase describes how sound waves interact with each other.
• Understanding these concepts helps recognise the distinctive character of different sounds.