Which term describes frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz?

Which term describes frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz?

• A. Infrasonic
• B. Ultrasonic
• C. Audible
• D. Subsonic

Answer: (C)

Think about where the frequencies land in relation to what humans can hear. Infrasonic means below the range we can hear (below about 20 Hz), and ultrasonic means above what we can hear (above about 20 kHz). The band from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz sits squarely inside the range humans can perceive, so it’s called the audible range. Subsonic isn’t the standard term for this frequency band and is more commonly related to speeds or phenomena below the speed of sound, not the hearing range. Because this range is what people can hear, the correct label is audible.

Think about where the frequencies land in relation to what humans can hear. Infrasonic means below the range we can hear (below about 20 Hz), and ultrasonic means above what we can hear (above about 20 kHz). The band from 20 Hz up to 20,000 Hz sits squarely inside the range humans can perceive, so it’s called the audible range. Subsonic isn’t the standard term for this frequency band and is more commonly related to speeds or phenomena below the speed of sound, not the hearing range. Because this range is what people can hear, the correct label is audible.