Helmholtz's Theory of Sound

Helmholtz’s Theory of Sound explains that sounds are produced by vibrations causing variations in air pressure. When an object vibrates, it creates sound waves that travel through the air. These waves are made up of areas of high pressure (compression) and low pressure (rarefaction). Helmholtz also discovered that the ear perceives different sounds because of the unique vibrations of the ear’s parts, especially the cochlea. Essentially, his theory describes how physical vibrations translate into the sensations of hearing, emphasizing the importance of the sound’s frequency and amplitude in how we perceive different pitches and loudness.