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Sound
Excerpt from DSM Sound Teacher’s Guide, © Copyright by Delta Education, a member of the School Specialty Family.
Not for resale, redistribution, or use other than classroom use without further permission.
G LO S S A RY
absorb To take in.
ear canal The passageway between the outer
ear and the eardrum.
eardrum A thin membrane between the ear
canal and the middle ear that vibrates when
sound waves strike it.
echo Reflected sound.
energy The ability to do work; in the case of
sound, the ability to make an object vibrate,
producing sound waves.
inner ear The innermost part of the ear, where
vibrations are translated into impulses that
travel along nerves to the brain.
length The measurement of an object from end
to end.
loud Having a high volume.
low Having a deep pitch.
middle ear The section of the ear containing
several small bones that transmit soundwave vibrations.
outer ear The portion of the ear that protrudes
from the side of the head.
percussion instrument An instrument that is
played by striking it or shaking it.
pitch The highness or lowness of a sound as
determined by the frequency of the sound
waves.
pluck To pull briefly at, creating a snap.
reflect To bounce off.
silence The absence of sound; total silence is
possible only in a complete vacuum.
soft Having a low volume.
sound A form of energy that is transmitted
through matter by vibrating an object.
sound waves Vibrations that produce sound.
stringed instrument An instrument played by
bowing or plucking its strings.
tension The tautness or tightness of a material
produced by the pull of opposing forces.
thickness The distance between two opposite
sides.
tuning fork A small, two-pronged steel
instrument that gives a fixed tone when
struck and is used for tuning musical
instruments.
vibrate To move back and forth rapidly.
vibration A rapid back-and-forth motion.
vocal cords Membranes at the upper end of
the passageway to the lungs that vibrate to
produce sound.
volume The loudness or softness of a sound as
determined by how strongly an object
vibrates.
wind instrument An instrument played by
blowing into or across an opening in it.
Note: The Delta Science Reader includes its
own glossary of terms.
delta science modules Sound
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