The audible frequency range is approximately ______.

The audible frequency range is approximately ______.

• A. 20 Hz-20,000 Hz
• B. 200 Hz-2,000 Hz
• C. 2 Hz-20 kHz
• D. 200 Hz-2,000 Hz

Answer: (A)

The audible range for humans spans roughly from 20 Hz at the low end to about 20,000 Hz (20 kHz) at the high end. This boundary reflects how the outer and especially the inner ear respond to different frequencies, with hair cells along the basilar membrane tuned to cover this broad spectrum. Many people can hear down to around 20 Hz and up to about 20 kHz when they’re young and healthy; the upper limit tends to drop with age or noise exposure. The option that matches this broad, fundamental range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The other ranges miss parts of the spectrum people can hear: starting at 200 Hz excludes the low bass region, while stopping at 2,000 Hz excludes much of the higher treble. A range starting at 2 Hz includes sounds below the threshold of hearing for humans.

The audible range for humans spans roughly from 20 Hz at the low end to about 20,000 Hz (20 kHz) at the high end. This boundary reflects how the outer and especially the inner ear respond to different frequencies, with hair cells along the basilar membrane tuned to cover this broad spectrum. Many people can hear down to around 20 Hz and up to about 20 kHz when they’re young and healthy; the upper limit tends to drop with age or noise exposure.

The option that matches this broad, fundamental range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The other ranges miss parts of the spectrum people can hear: starting at 200 Hz excludes the low bass region, while stopping at 2,000 Hz excludes much of the higher treble. A range starting at 2 Hz includes sounds below the threshold of hearing for humans.