I found this interesting post in alt.physics.acoustics regarding ambient
background noise that we mask out but which is picked up and amplified
by a seashell. Am I reading this wrong?
The reason it intrigued me was that like cats faced with sudden noises
will be startled..if the noises repeat, they will eventually acclimate
and ignore the noise just as we can be acclimated to background noises.
My curiosity is making me think we could tap into an acoustically rich
environment that might be translated to mechanical force or even power
if using the new cavity amplifiers. Maybe I'm on a limb here but the
idea is intriguing....comments?
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In article <3769b2fb.0@news.hawaii.rr.com> jaydee62@hotmail.com (Jay
Dee) writes:
> Why do we hear the ocean in seashells?
The sound you hear is not really the ocean, bur rather part of the
normal background present in the air, especially outdoors. However two
important differences occur while the ear is mostly shielded by the
shell:
1- Most of the sound at frequencies other than the air-resonant
frequency of the cavity formed by the shell are rejectd or shielded.
2- The sound at the resonance frequency of the shell accumulate inside,
builing up to some extent.
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187