Question

At higher levels, the equal loudness contour ______, indicating that the physical magnitude resulting in equal subjective perception is less than at lower levels.

a) Widens
b) Flattens
c) Narrows
d) Extends

Answer 1

The equal loudness contour flattens at higher levels, which indicates the perceived loudness of sounds at different frequencies requires less physical amplitude to be perceived as equally loud compared to lower levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

At higher levels, the equal loudness contour flattens, indicating that the physical magnitude resulting in equal subjective perception is less than at lower levels. Equal loudness contours, which are also known as Fletcher-Munson curves, represent the perceived loudness of sounds at different frequencies and sound pressure levels. Our hearing sensitivity varies with frequency and volume levels, so at higher volumes, our ears are more sensitive to a wider range of frequencies, leading to a flatter curve. This means less physical amplitude is required for those frequencies to be perceived as equally loud compared to lower volume levels.

It's important to note that these curves and assessments have inherent uncertainties due to factors such as the difficulty of interpolation and the individual variability in hearing.