Audible, infrasonic and ultrasonic waves
Sound waves · Physics
Transverse wave
Interactive 3DA travelling wave ribbon. Raise the amplitude to make it taller, the frequency to make it faster.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
Study notes
Question: A bat emits a sound wave with a frequency of 40,000 Hz. Can a human hear this sound? Which category does it belong to? Step 1: Identify the frequency of the sound wave, which is 40,000 Hz. Step 2: Recall the range of human hearing, which is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Step 3: Compare the given frequency (40,000 Hz) with the human hearing range. Since 40,000 is greater than 20,000, it is outside the audible range. Step 4: Determine the category. Frequencies above 20,000 Hz are classified as Ultrasonic waves. Conclusion: A human cannot hear this sound. It belongs to the Ultrasonic category.