Definition of Ohm's acoustic law
Ohm's acoustic law, sometimes called the acoustic phase law or simply Ohm's law, states that a musical sound is perceived by the ear as a set of a number of constituent pure harmonic tones.
The law was proposed by physicist Georg Ohm in 1843. Hermann von Helmholtz elaborated the law into what is often today known as Ohm's acoustic law, by adding that the quality of a tone depends solely on the number and relative strength of its partial simple tones, and not on their relative phases. Helmholtz championed the law in opposition to contrary evidence expounded by August Seebeck.
The law has also been interpreted as "a pitch corresponding to a certain frequency can only be heard if the acoustical wave contains power at that frequency."
Terms mentioned above
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Further reading
- Acoustic Loudspeaker · Wikibooks: Acoustics
- Acoustics in Violins · Wikibooks: Acoustics
- Basic Acoustics of the Marimba · Wikibooks: Acoustics
- Basic Room Acoustic Treatments · Wikibooks: Acoustics
Frequently asked questions
What is Ohm's acoustic law?
Ohm's acoustic law, sometimes called the acoustic phase law or simply Ohm's law, states that a musical sound is perceived by the ear as a set of a number of constituent pure harmonic tones.