But how, exactly, do we filter different sounds from our awareness? There is actually a complicated science explaining the behavior of different sounds and the degree to which they affect us.
What Is A Sound Wave?
HERTZ
A sound wave is actually a vibration by which energy passes from molecule to molecule of any surrounding substances from the air to the furniture, carpeting, and walls of a room. When you and another person are conversing face-to-face, you can hear each other because the sound waves you create pass through the air molecules in the room. At the same time you are picking up the other person's words, however, you will be able to hear sounds from sources outside the room, like traffic or the shouts of children playing.
You can hear those sounds because the a portion of the sound waves they create also passes not only through the outside air, but through the windows, doors, and walls of your home, and reaches your ears. But you don't hear those sounds as clearly as your hear the voice of the person with whom you are conversing, because a part of those sound waves will be bounced off the exterior surface of your home, in a process referred to as "sound reflection."
The sound waves which do make it into your home do so by the process of "sound transmission," and you may be surprised to learn that the materials used in your home's construction, like wood, concrete, and drywall will transmit sound energy as readily as air does.
Decibel And Hertz
The sound transmission properties of any material can be measured according to their Sound Transmission Coefficient, or STC. The Soundproofing Material in your walls, floors, and ceilings, for instance, have all been assigned a numeric STC value indicating the efficiency with which they can block sound transmission, and keep exterior noise from entering a room. The average STC rating for a home wall with drywall and studs is 38, meaning that the exterior noise entering that home would be reduced by 38 decibels.
Decibels are used to measure the intensity of sound waves, while their Hertz rating measures their frequencies, or the amount of cycles they repeat in a given time. A single Hertz is a single cycle in a second, and high Hertz sound waves create high-pitched noises, while low-Hertz sound waves produce low-pitched ones. Their flatter slower sound waves allow lo-vibration sound waves to travel more easily through solid surfaces than high-pitched ones, and explain why you can hear the Noise of your neighbor's lawnmower more easily than your can hear his or her voice.
It is the differing frequencies and decibels of sound waves which is responsible for the need for many different types of soundproofing materials to satisfy the needs of different soundproofing jobs. So you should always consult with a soundproofing expert to determine which materials will be the best to eliminate unwanted noise from your environment.
How Surfaces Affect Sound Wave Transmission
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