Sound and Noise

We come across sound & noise daily but we experience both differently. You can ask: What’s the difference between a sound and a noise? or “What is sound & noise? In this blog, we will answer these questions and more, by understanding what is the difference and how they function & their importance in our lives.

 

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What is Sound?

Sound is a form of energy that travels in waves. It's made when something vibrates, such as when a drum is struck or guitar string is plucked. These vibrations form pressure waves in the air, which make their way to our ears. The vibrations are detected by tiny hairs in the ear & signals are sent to the brain. The brain translates these signals into sound.

 

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Characteristics of Sound

We can learn a lot about sound by looking at its features, & there are a few main ones:

1. Pitch: This describes how high or low a sound is. High-pitched sounds — such as a whistle — vibrate quickly, while deep-sounding ones, such as a drumbeat, vibrate slowly.

2. Volume: This is the loudness or softness of a sound. The more sound, the stronger the vibrations. The quieter the sound, the less powerful the vibrations.

3. Timbre: This is the tone color of that sound, that allows us to identify the sound of different instruments, the sound of a piano & a guitar is different, for example, even if they play the same note.

 

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What is Noise?

Noise is commonly defined as an unwanted sound. It’s also often loud and disruptive, and it can be bad for our health. But they make noise: traffic, construction sites, loud music, or even people yelling. Sound can be nice, but noise is usually annoying & disturbing. Noise pollution, which can be a significant stressor and cause hearing loss, is one of the key issues in cities.

 

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The Difference Between Sound and Noise

All noise is sound, but not all sound is noise. Well interpretation is the only difference. “What is the difference between a sound and a noise?” One reason is that a sound can be good, from the sound of birds singing, or leaves fluttering, to the tune of your favorite song. But noise is what we do not want to hear, generally speaking, the honks of the car horn, the ringing of the phone & construction workers in the early morning hours.

In short:

• Sound: Enjoyable, functional, or lovely.

• Noise: Something loud, unpleasant, unwanted.

 

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How Sound and Noise Affect Us

There are effects on our health from both sound & noise. So-called pleasant sounds can leave us feeling relaxed and happy, while noise can contribute to stress, disrupt our sleep & even lead to hearing loss over time. People who live in busy cities, for instance, may be exposed to a high noise level, which can lead to increased tension and fatigue.

On the upside, music, nature sounds & laughter sounds can help reduce stress. Indeed, scores of individuals rely on sound for their focus and relaxation, listening to calming music or white noise when studying & sleeping.

 

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Fun Prep-Up: Let's Create Sound!

Having learned much about sound and noise, here’s one fun activity you can try. You just need a bowl, water, & a spoon.

1. Add some water to the bowl.

2. Gently tap the spoon to the side of the bowl.

3. Listen closely to the sound!

4. Now this time, tap it, harder & notice how different sound it creates.

You can produce different pitches & volumes by varying how hard you tap the bowl. The reason this happens is that when you hit the bowl harder, it vibrates more, producing a louder noise.

 

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Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What causes sound?

• a) Light vibrations

• b) Water movements

• c) Vibrations in a medium

• d) Air pressure changes

2. What is the characteristic of sound that describes how high or low it is?

• a) Volume

• b) Timbre

• c) Pitch

• d) Frequency

3. What is considered noise?

• a) Pleasant music

• b) A calm river sound

• c) Loud, disruptive sounds

• d) Birds chirping

4. What is the effect of noise on our health?

• a) It improves concentration

• b) It can cause stress & hearing damage

• c) It makes us feel happy

• d) It helps with sleep

5. Which of these is an example of sound but not noise?

• a) Traffic horns

• b) A ringing phone

• c) Birds chirping

• d) Construction work