Audio or audible frequency is a periodic vibration whose frequency is audible to the average human. When a sound is produced in a medium, it causes the molecules to vibrate. When these vibrations reach our ears, our ears vibrate at the same frequency, and the signal is converted from vibrations in the medium to electrical signals that our brains interpret as a sound. Audio frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz). The number of hertz in a sound determines the frequency. Since frequencies are measured in cycles per second, a Hertz equals one cycle per second. The generally accepted hearing range for the average human is 20 to 20,000 Hertz. The hearing range is further broken down into frequency bands.
Frequencies below 20 (Hz) are generally felt than heard and are called Infrasonic frequencies. According to some studies, assuming the vibration amplitude is large enough, frequencies below 20 (Hz) induces muscle relaxation. On the other hand, sound frequencies above 20 (kHz) are called ultrasonic. However, frequency sensitivity disappears or is significantly reduced around 16-17(kHz) for most people due to gradual hearing loss.
The audio frequency within a sound is a crucial property that helps determine the pitch. As the pitch increases, so does the frequency; as the pitch decreases, so does the frequency.
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