Question Detail

PHY 104 Pitch, loudness, quality, timber Objective Question
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Question

Why is a logarithmic measure considered appropriate for expressing loudness, according to the text?
Options
A To simplify complex calculations of sound intensity.
B Because the human ear's sensitivity is linear across all sound amplitudes.
C Because the ear is more sensitive to small amplitude sounds, requiring a nonlinear scale.
Correct Answer
D To ensure that all units of sound intensity are dimensionless.
Correct Answer

Option C is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

The text states, 'It is worthy of note that the ear is more sensitive to sound of very small amplitude than it is to sound of very large amplitude. Thus, a nonlinear scale is appropriate. This is provided by the logarithmic measure'.

Hint

This reason is explicitly stated when introducing the logarithmic measure for loudness.

Question Info

Course: PHY 104
Topic: Pitch, loudness, quality, timber
Type: Objective
Difficulty: Not specified
Question 385 of 947
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