Lesson 3 Free Yourself with Science
Tuning Out: The Science of Noise-Cancellation
Which is the better environment for studying: a noisy place or ____ quiet place?
Rarely do people want to put up with ____ lot of noise because it can be unpleasant and distracting.
Fortunately, scientists have invented noise-cancelling technology, which is now being used across ____ fields to reduce unwanted noise.
What is the ____ principle behind this achievement?
____ understand this, let’s examine how sound travels.
The Principle of Sound Waves and ____
Sound is produced through vibrations that occur from a sound source, when ____ strings of a guitar are played, for instance.
The vibrations of the sound source cause the air ____ vibrate and the sound to travel as waves, similar to the ripples created in a lake when you throw a stone.
____ these sound waves reach our ears, the brain interprets them as sound.
Just as different ripples in water might overlap if you throw two stones, sound waves can also interfere ____ each other when they meet.
There ____ two types of interference: constructive and destructive.
Constructive interference occurs when the peaks ____ two waves overlap, resulting in a bigger wave and a louder sound.
Destructive interference, on the other hand, occurs when a peak of one wave overlaps with a valley of another wave, so they cancel each other out and produce a quieter sound, or no sound at ____
The Science Behind Noise-Cancelling Headphones
____ Science Behind Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Destructive interference is used ____ the noise-cancelling feature of headphones when we listen to music.
Inside the headphones ____ microphones and noise-cancelling circuitry.
The microphones pick up sounds from the outside, and the ____ analyzes them to produce opposite sound waves.
For example, if outside noise has a value of +1, the circuitry will generate an opposite noise of –1 and transmit it ____ the speakers.
This cancels out the unwanted sound even in ____ surroundings, so you can hear the music sound clearly without turning up the volume.
However, it is not easy ____ entirely eliminate external noise with this technology.
To achieve full noise cancellation, the circuitry must convert the noise into digital data and instantly ____ the opposite sound to the speakers as soon as the noise reaches the microphones.
Therefore, this noise-cancellation technology is effective for ____ sounds like those of car engines and subways that occur regularly or over a period of time.
However, it’s relatively less effective ____ inconsistent sounds such as those of people talking close to you.
Exploring the Technology and Its Applications
____ technology is not only used in music devices.
Other fields also take advantage of this technology, such as ticket offices at tourist attractions which are ____ very noisy.
Microphones are installed in ticket offices to detect external noise, and an opposite sound wave is generated and transmitted through a speaker, enabling the ticket agent to hear the customer’s ____ clearly.
Another area in which ____ technology is used is drive-through fast-food restaurants and coffee shops.
They use noise-cancelling headsets to improve communication between employees and customers ____ eliminating vehicle noise.
These noise-cancelling headsets help ____ employees take orders accurately.
The same technology is also used for cars, whose audio systems ____ waves to cancel out unpleasant sounds such as engine, wind, and road noise.
Thanks ____ noise-cancelling devices, it is possible for drivers to focus on driving without being disturbed by distracting noises.
As technology advances, many people expect it ____ solve various social issues caused by noise pollution.
A common source ____ these problems is noisy neighbors, as the noise they make can lead to conflict among residents.
Noise-cancellation technology can help address these problems by reducing unwanted ____ allowing people to lead more peaceful and healthier lives.