Mathematics and Society - OS X Lion Server

Sound is caused by a vibrating object.The vibrating object starts nearby air moleculesmoving back and forth. These vibratingair molecules cause other air molecules tovibrate until the molecules near an eardrumare moving back and forth. The moleculesnear the eardrum cause the eardrum to vibrateat the same rate as the original object.Nerves transmit a message to the brain andthe brain interprets the message as sound.Air or some other substance is necessary tothe hearing of sound. No sound will be heardif a tuning fork is vibrating in a vacuum.The faster an object vibrates, the higher thepitch of the sound becomes. The greater thevibration, the louder the sound. The closerthe vibrating object is to the ear, the louderthe sound.1. List three of the loudest sounds you can think of.2. List three of the softest sounds you can think of.3. Compare your list with those of your classmates'. Of all the soundslisted, which do you think is the loudest? the softest?4. There are quite a few sounds that would fit between the softest andloudest sounds you just named. Some examples of sounds that peoplehear are given below. Arrange the 13 sounds in order from softest toloudest. Does your ordering agree with others in the class?food blender ~::~::;sation (close) \Al~whisper ; ~alarm clock "'-.,{-l ;. ~ -~rock band~ ~fi!r:-"'-kZ"-­q~iet ~oun~ryside ~~1'--,~\\1A"'~a~r ra~d s~ren ~. f I )t!l(\ ~heavy traffic ;;:quiet streetleaves rustling ~I I':::::: )boiler factory eU L:/Jquiet office315