Chapter 1T - Introduc tion t o sound synthesis 1T

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time in msec -

Fig.1.9 Four sounds of differe nt fr equencies

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INTERACTIVE EXAMPLE 1A • FREQUENCY

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From the instant that it propagat es in space, a wave has a length that is inverse-
ly propo rtional to its frequency. Let's clarify t his concept: the speed of sound
in air (the speed at wh ich waves propagate from a source) is about 344 meters
per second. 10 This means that a hypot hetical wave of 1 Hz wou ld have a length
of about 344 meters, because w hen it has comp leted one cycle, one second
w ill have passed, and duri ng th is second, the wavefro nt wi ll have traveled 344
meters. A wave of 10 Hz, however, comp letes 10 cycles in a single second,
wh ich f ill 344 meters w ith an arrangement of 10 cycles of 34.4 meters each;
each cycle physically occup ies a ten th of the tota l space available.

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1 For the record, this speed is reached w hen the temp eratu re is 2 1°C (69 ,8° F). The speed of

sound is, in fact , propor tio nal to t he tem peratu re of th e medium .

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