Hi,

I'm looking for an exceptionally precise definition of sound so i can go an kick some philosophers butt tommorow night.. i've got so far planning my argument.. and just realised if i dont define sound i have a slight problem...

 

How is sound created? Just air particles vibrating? Or will any particles vibrating create sound?

 

Also exactly what is sound (strict definition)

 

Thanks :D

sound is a wave passed along by atoms or particles

Sound is merely the vibration of molecules to a pitch that we can perceive.

Sound is merely the vibration of molecules to a pitch that we can perceive.

 

the 1`st part is correct, but you`re way off base with the second part, there are sounds that we cannot Perceive also.

are you talking about the tree falls in the forest gig?

if you`re refering to me, then No, I`m not.

no, sir, the original post, as you well know.

Vibrations in air are vibrations in air. They are not sound. Sound is a sensory experience resulting from excitation of auditory centres in the temporal lobes.

 

These two things correlate insofar as vibrations in air cause the timpanic membranes to vibrate, which in turn triggers mechanoreceptors in the cochlea which send electrochemical volleys to auditory centres. But there are exceptions. It doesn't always take vibrations in air to result in sound. Nor will vibrations in air always result in sound (e.g. congenital deafness).

 

Examples of sound percived without vibrations in air include acute (or chronic) tinitus, or direct electrical stimulation of cochleal transducers, the auditory nerve or areas of the temporal lobes (electricity is not a mechanical stimulus).

 

So, sound can be defined as a specific sensory experience associated with activity in auditory areas in the temporal lobes which usually, but not necessarily, results from the amplification of vibrations in air through the timpanic membranes and transduced by mechanoreceptors in the cochlea.