Klarinet Archive - Posting 000640.txt from 1997/11

From: James Pyne <jpyne@-----.edu>
Subj: the human ear
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 08:11:20 -0500

The following quote is from <italic>Acoustical Measurements by Leo
</italic>Beranek, a book published by the American Institute of
Physics:

"At the most favorable pitch an ordinary ear can detect sound pressures
smaller than 10 to the minus 10th of normal atmospheric pressure. At
this low sound pressure the eardrum moves less than 10 to the minus 9th
cm, which is one hundred-thousandth of the wavelength of light or one
tenth the diameter of the smallest atom."

The human hearing mechanism is an incredibly sensitive device.

JM Pyne

James Pyne

Clarinet Studio/Research Group

School of Music

The Ohio State University

1866 College Road

Columbus, Ohio 43210

pyne.1@-----.edu

Tel: 614 292 8969

Fax: 614 292 1102