The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #31468 Message #413311
Posted By: GUEST,Pete Peterson at work
08-Mar-01 - 09:26 AM
Thread Name: What DO Physicists Think About?
Subject: RE: What DO Physicists Think About?
I'm trying to re-phrase what it is that you are looking at down to the point where I can understand it. The question seems to be: for how long must a chord be sounded before it is recognized as a chord? If the single note middle C at 256 Hz is sounded for only 1/100 second, this is only 2 full sine waves if a PURE tone, and overtones could be lost. Does the human ear recognize it in a short time?
Some empirical observations from many years ago: WWV time signals included a 440 cycle (this is in the days before Hz!!) or 600 cycle continuous tone, with a "tick" alleged to be a 1000 cycle "tone" sounded for 5/1000 second. When I read this I tried to hear the 1000 cycle tone and never could, all I could hear was a sharp "tick".
And yes, I know who to thank for WWV. Anyway, before proceeding further, have I understood the question?