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1.3: Frequency

Understanding Sound From Ear to Engineer · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Frequency

    The frequency of a sound wave refers to the number of cycles (or oscillations) that occur per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). It determines the pitch of the sound; higher frequencies produce higher-pitched sounds, while lower frequencies result in lower-pitched sounds. Think of higher pitched sounds coming from the upper keys of a piano, while the lower pitched sounds would come from the lower keys.

    Human Hearing Range

    The typical human ear can hear sounds in the frequency range from about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). Sounds below 20 Hz are considered infrasound, while those above 20 kHz are categorized as ultrasound. Many animals, such as dogs and bats, can hear frequencies outside the human range, which is why they may react to sounds we cannot hear.

    This page titled 1.3: Frequency was last modified on Fri, 01 May 2026 02:54:52 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Geoffrey Dunbar.