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| '''Sound''' is a disturbance of [[mechanical energy]] that propagates through [[matter]] as a [[wave]] (through fluids as a [[compression wave]], and through solids as both compression and [[shear wave]]s). Sound is further characterized by the generic [[Wave#Physical description of a wave|properties of waves]], which are [[frequency]], [[wavelength]], [[period]], [[amplitude]], [[speed of sound|speed]], and [[direction]] (sometimes speed and direction are combined as a [[velocity]] [[Vector (spatial)|vector]], or wavelength and direction are combined as a [[wave vector]]).
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| Humans perceive sound by the [[sense]] of [[hearing (sense)|hearing]]. By sound, we commonly mean the vibrations that travel through air and are audible to people. However, scientists and engineers use a wider definition of sound that includes low and high [[frequency]] [[vibrations]] in the air that cannot be heard by humans, and vibrations that travel through all forms of matter, [[gas]]es, [[liquid]]s, [[solid]]s, and [[plasma (physics)|plasma]]s.
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| The matter that supports the sound is called the [[Transmission medium|medium]]. Sound propagates as [[waves]] of alternating [[pressure]], causing local regions of [[physical compression|compression]] and [[rarefaction]]. Particles in the medium are displaced by the wave and oscillate. The scientific study of the absorption and reflection of sound waves is called [[acoustics]].
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| [[Noise]] is often used to refer to an unwanted sound. In science and engineering, noise is an undesirable component that obscures a wanted signal.
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| ==Perception of sound==
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| [[Image:Processing-of-sound.svg|thumb|right|300px|A schematic representation of hearing. (Blue: sound waves. Red: [[eardrum]]. Yellow: [[cochlea]]. Green: [[stereocilia|auditory receptor cells]]. Purple: [[frequency spectrum]] of hearing response. Orange: [[nerve impulse]])|{{puic|1=Image:Processing-of-sound.svg|log=2007 September 15}}]]
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| Sound is perceived through the [[sense]] of [[hearing (sense)|hearing]]. Humans and many animals use their [[ear]]s to hear sound, but loud sounds and low-frequency sounds can be perceived as vibrations by other parts of the body via the [[tactition|sense of touch]]. Sounds are used in several ways, notably for communication through [[Speech communication|speech]] and [[music]]. They can also be used to acquire information about properties of the surrounding environment such as spatial characteristics and presence of other animals or objects. For example, [[bat]]s use [[animal echolocation|echolocation]], ships and submarines use [[sonar]] and most humans acquire some spatial information by the way in which they perceive sounds. [[Elephant]]s and [[alligator]]s use very low frequency sounds to communicate, and mice, bats, cetaceans, and some insects use high frequency sounds, both outside the human hearing range.
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| Humans can generally hear sounds with frequencies between 20 [[Hertz|Hz]] and 20 [[kHz]] (the audio range) although this range varies significantly with age, occupational hearing damage, and gender; nearly all people in the developed world can no longer hear 20,000 Hz by the time they are teenagers, and progressively lose the ability to hear both higher frequencies and low level sounds as they get older. Most human speech communication takes place between 200 and 8,000 Hz and the human ear is most sensitive to frequencies around 1000-3,500 Hz. Sound above the hearing range is known as [[ultrasound]], and that below the hearing range as [[infrasound]].
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| The amplitude of a sound wave is specified in terms of its [[pressure]]. The human ear can detect sounds with a very wide range of amplitudes and so a [[logarithm]]ic [[decibel]] amplitude scale is used. The quietest sounds that humans can hear have an amplitude of approximately 20 µPa ([[micropascal]]s) or a sound pressure level (SPL) of 0 dB re 20 µPa (often incorrectly abbreviated as 0 dB SPL). Prolonged exposure to sound pressure levels exceeding 85 dB can permanently damage the ear, resulting in [[tinnitus]] and [[hearing impairment]]. Sound levels in excess of 130 dB are more than the human ear can safely withstand and can result in serious pain and permanent damage. At very high amplitudes, sound waves exhibit [[nonlinear]] effects, including [[shock wave|shock]].
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| Just how sound travels, or propagates, is difficult to imagine for many, as sound is invisible. Sound is an oscillating pressure wave, in which air is compressed, then decompressed, as sound moves away from its origin. Imagine a tube exposed to air whereby sound travels longitudinally through it. The air acts rather like a [[Slinky]] spring would if confined to the tube. As sound is generated at one end, a pressure wave will begin to travel through the air in the tube. Watching an earth worm move by pulsating its long body may help the imagination. The cycle length (i.e., the distance between successive 'bunched up parts of the slinky') is a particular sound's wave length, though most real world sounds are a mixture of many wave lengths. Low frequency sounds (eg, low organ or piano notes, bass guitars, etc) have large wave lengths, on the order of 10-50 feet long. High frequency sounds (eg, some parts of the noise associated with transient sounds as in many percussion instruments), have wave lengths as small as 1/2 inch.
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| ==Speed of sound==
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| {{main|Speed of sound}}
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| The speed at which sound travels depends on the medium through which the waves are passing, and is often quoted as a fundamental property of the material. In general, the speed of sound is proportional to the square root of the ratio of the [[elastic modulus]] (stiffness) of the medium and its density. Those physical properties and the speed of sound change with ambient conditions. For example, the speed of sound in gases depends on [[temperature]]. In air at sea level, the speed of sound is approximately 769.5 [[mph]] (1,238.3 km/h) at 68 °F (20 °C),<ref>[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/souspe.html Speed of Sound]</ref> in water 3,315.1 mph (5,335.1 km/h) at 20 °C (68 °F),<ref>[http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/NickyDu.shtml Speed of Sound in Water]</ref> and in steel 13,332.1 mph (21,446 km/h)<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/19537/Physics4.html The Soundry: The Physics of Sound]</ref> . The speed of sound is also slightly sensitive (a second order effect) to the sound amplitude, which means that there are nonlinear propagation effects, such as the production of harmonics and mixed tones not present in the original sound. (see [[parametric array]]).
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| ==Sound pressure==
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| {{main|Sound pressure}}
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| '''Sound pressure''' is the [[pressure]] deviation from the local ambient pressure caused by a sound [[wave]]. Sound pressure can be measured using a [[microphone]] in air and a [[hydrophone]] in water. The SI unit for sound pressure is the [[pascal (unit)|pascal]] (symbol: Pa). The instantaneous sound pressure is the deviation from the local ambient pressure caused by a sound wave at a given location and given instant in time. The effective sound pressure is the [[root mean square]] of the instantaneous sound pressure averaged over a given interval of time. In a sound wave, the complementary variable to sound pressure is the [[particle velocity|acoustic particle velocity]]. For small amplitudes, sound pressure and particle velocity are linearly related and their ratio is the [[acoustic impedance]]. The acoustic impedance depends on both the characteristics of the wave and the [[Transmission medium|medium]]. The local instantaneous [[sound intensity]] is the product of the sound pressure and the acoustic particle velocity and is, therefore, a vector quantity.
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| The loudest sound ever in air reported was the 1883 volcanic eruption of [[Krakatoa]], whereby sound pressure levels reached 180 dB re 20 µPa at a distance of 100 [[Mile#Statute miles|miles]] (160 km).{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
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| ==Sound pressure level==
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| As the human ear can detect sounds with a very wide range of amplitudes, sound pressure is often measured as a level on a logarithmic [[decibel]] scale.
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| The '''sound pressure level''' (SPL) or ''L''<sub>p</sub> is defined as
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| :<math>
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| L_\mathrm{p}=10\, \log_{10}\left(\frac{{p}^2}{{p_0}^2}\right) =20\, \log_{10}\left(\frac{p}{p_0}\right)\mbox{ dB}
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| </math>
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| :where ''p'' is the [[root-mean-square]] sound pressure and ''p''<sub>0</sub> is a reference sound pressure. Commonly used reference sound pressures, defined in the standard [[American National Standards Institute|ANSI]] S1.1-1994, are 20 [[micropascal|µPa]] in air and 1 [[micropascal|µPa]] in water. Without a specified reference level, a value expressed in decibels cannot represent a sound pressure level.
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| Since the human [[ear]] does not have a flat [[spectral response]], sound pressure levels are often [[frequency]] weighted so that the measured level will match perceived levels more closely. The [[International Electrotechnical Commission]] (IEC) has defined several weighting schemes. [[A-weighting]] attempts to match the response of the human ear to noise and A-weighted sound pressure levels are labeled dBA. C-weighting is used to measure peak levels.
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| ===Examples of sound pressure and sound pressure levels===<!-- This section is linked from [[Decibel]] -->
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| See also [[Sound pressure#Examples of sound pressure and sound pressure levels|the Sound pressure article]].
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| {| class="wikitable"
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| ! Source of sound !! [[root mean square|RMS]] sound pressure !! sound pressure level
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| !   !! align="center" | Pa !! align="center" | dB re 20 µPa
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| |immediate soft tissue damage || align="right" | 50000 || align="right" | approx. 185
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| |rocket launch equipment acoustic tests || align="right" | || align="right" | approx. 165
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| |[[threshold of pain]] || align="right" | 100 || align="right" | 134
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| |hearing damage during short-term effect || align="right" | 20 || align="right" | approx. 120
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| |[[jet engine]], 100 m distant || align="right" | 6–200 || align="right" | 110–140
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| |[[jack hammer]], 1 m distant / [[discotheque]] || align="right" | 2 || align="right" | approx. 100
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| |[[hearing damage]] from long-term exposure || align="right" | 0.6 || align="right" | approx. 85
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| |traffic noise on major road, 10 m distant || align="right" | 0.2–0.6 || align="right" | 80–90
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| |-
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| |moving [[passenger car]], 10 m distant || align="right" | 0.02–0.2 || align="right" | 60–80
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| |TV set -- typical home level, 1 m distant || align="right" | 0.02 || align="right" | ca. 60
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| |normal talking, 1 m distant || align="right" | 0.002–0.02 || align="right" | 40–60
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| |very calm room || align="right" | 0.0002–0.0006 || align="right" | 20–30
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| |quiet rustling leaves, calm human breathing || align="right" | 0.00006 || align="right" | 10
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| |[[auditory threshold]] at 2 kHz -- undamaged human ears || align="right" | 0.00002 || align="right" | 0
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| |}
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| == Equipment for dealing with sound ==
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| Equipment for generating or using sound includes [[musical instrument]]s, [[hearing aid]]s, [[sonar]] systems and [[sound reproduction]] and broadcasting equipment. Many of these use electro-acoustic transducers such as [[microphone]]s and [[loudspeaker]]s.
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| == References ==
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| <references/>
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| ==Sound measurement==
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| <div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
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| *[[Decibel]], [[sone]], [[Mel scale|mel]], [[phon]], [[hertz]]
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| *[[Sound pressure level]]
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| *[[Particle velocity]], [[acoustic velocity]]
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| *[[Particle displacement]], [[particle amplitude]], [[particle acceleration]]
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| *[[Sound power]], [[acoustic power]], [[sound power level]]
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| *[[Sound energy flux]]
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| *[[Sound intensity]], [[acoustic intensity]], [[sound intensity level]]
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| *[[Acoustic impedance]], [[sound impedance]], [[characteristic impedance]]
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| *[[Speed of sound]], [[amplitude]]
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| </div>
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| == See also ==
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| *[[Acoustics]] | [[Auditory imagery]] | [[Audio signal processing]] | [[Beat (acoustics)|Beat]]s | [[Cycle (music)|Cycles]] | [[Diffraction]] | [[Doppler effect]] | [[Echo (phenomenon)|Echo]] | [[FindSounds]] | [[Music]] | [[Note]] | [[Phonons]] | [[Physics of music]] | [[Pitch (music)|Pitch]] | [[Radiation of sound]] | [[Resonance]] | [[Rijke tube]] | [[Reflection (physics)|Reflection]] | [[Reverberation]] | [[Sonic weaponry]] | [[Sound localization]] | [[Soundproofing]] | [[Rotary Woofer]] | [[Steam whistle]] | [[Timbre]] | [[Voyager Golden Record]] | [[Audio bit depth]] | [[Sound branding]] | [[Sounds and Mind]]
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| {{wikibookspar||School science how-to}}
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| == External links ==
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| *[http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/soucon.html HyperPhysics: Sound and Hearing]
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| *[http://podcomplex.com/guide/physics.html Introduction to the Physics of Sound]
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| *[http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~jw/hearing.html Hearing curves and on-line hearing test]
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| *[http://www.audiodesignline.com/howto/audioprocessing/193303241 Audio for the 21st Century]
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| *[http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-soundlevel.htm Conversion of sound units and levels]
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| *[http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/schools/index.htm Sounds Amazing a learning resource for sound and waves]
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| *[http://www.sengpielaudio.com/Calculations03.htm Sound calculations]
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| *[http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/source/s/o/sound/source.html sound - diracdelta.co.uk] - definition and links to further pages.
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| {{wikiquote}}
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| [[Category:Sound| ]]
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| [[Category:Hearing]]
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| [[Category:Waves]] | |
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| [[af:Klank]]
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| [[ar:صوت]]
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| [[bn:শব্দ]]
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| [[bs:Zvuk]]
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| [[bg:Звук]]
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| [[ca:So]]
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| [[cs:Zvuk]]
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| [[cy:Sain]]
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| [[da:Lyd]]
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| [[de:Schall]]
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| [[et:Heli]]
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| [[el:Ήχος]]
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| [[es:Sonido]]
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| [[eo:Sono]]
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| [[eu:Soinu]]
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| [[fr:Son (physique)]]
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| [[ga:Fuaim]]
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| [[gl:Son]]
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| [[ko:소리]]
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| [[hr:Zvuk]]
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| [[io:Sono]]
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| [[id:Bunyi]]
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| [[is:Hljóð]]
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| [[it:Suono]]
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| [[he:קול]]
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| [[lv:Skaņa]]
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| [[lt:Garsas]]
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| [[jbo:sance]]
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| [[hu:Hang]]
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| [[mk:Звук]]
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| [[ml:ശബ്ദം]]
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| [[ms:Bunyi]]
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| [[nl:Geluid]]
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| [[ja:音]]
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| [[no:Lyd]]
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| [[nn:Lyd]]
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| [[uz:Tovush]]
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| [[pl:Dźwięk]]
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| [[pt:Som]]
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| [[ro:Sunet]]
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| [[ru:Звук]]
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| [[simple:Sound]]
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| [[sk:Zvuk]]
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| [[sl:Zvok]]
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| [[sr:Звук]]
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| [[su:Sora]]
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| [[fi:Ääni]]
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| [[sv:Ljud]]
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| [[ta:ஒலி]]
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| [[th:เสียง]]
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| [[vi:Âm thanh]]
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| [[tr:Ses (enerji)]]
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| [[uk:Звук]]
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| [[zh-yue:聲]]
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| [[zea:Geluud]]
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| [[zh:声音]]
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| {{WH}}
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| {{WikiDoc Sources}}
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| {{jb1}}
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