The interaction of sound waves with the medium through which they pass can be used to investigate the thermophysical properties of that medium. With the advent of modern instrumentation, it is now possible to determine the speed and absorption of sound with extremely high precision and, through the dependence of those quantities on variables like temperature, pressure, and frequency to gain a sensitive measure of one or more properties of fluid. This has led to renewed interest in such measurements and in the extraction of thermophysical properties of gases and liquids there from. Physical Acoustics and Metrology of Fluids describes both how to design experiments to achieve the highest possible accuracy and how to relate the quantities measured in those experiments to the thermophysical properties of the medium. A thorough theoretical examination of the alternative experimental methods available is designed to guide the experimentalist toward better and more accurate methods. This theoretical analysis is enhanced and complemented by an in-depth discussion of practical experimental techniques and the problems inherent within them. Bringing together the fields of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, fluid mechanics, and theoretical acoustics, plus a wealth of information about practical instruments, this book represents an essential reference on the design and execution of valuable experiments in fluid metrology and physical acoustics.

When we talk about sounds, we often describe them as loud or quiet and high or low. However, there are scientific ways to measure sound, and readers learn about them in this insightful look at an important early science topic. Pitch, decibels, waves, and frequency are described in age-appropriate detail, along with many other essential physics terms. The at-level text is broken down into short, clear sentences, and additional visual elements include colorful photographs and a helpful decibel chart. This focused approach to physical science gives readers a sense of how classroom concepts are applied in the larger world.

Millions of Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. The Social Security Administration (SSA) operates programs that provide cash disability benefits to people with permanent impairments like hearing loss, if they can show that their impairments meet stringent SSA criteria and their earnings are below an SSA threshold. The National Research Council convened an expert committee at the request of the SSA to study the issues related to disability determination for people with hearing loss. This volume is the product of that study. Hearing Loss: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits reviews current knowledge about hearing loss and its measurement and treatment, and provides an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the current processes and criteria. It recommends changes to strengthen the disability determination process and ensure its reliability and fairness. The book addresses criteria for selection of pure tone and speech tests, guidelines for test administration, testing of hearing in noise, special issues related to testing children, and the difficulty of predicting work capacity from clinical hearing test results. It should be useful to audiologists, otolaryngologists, disability advocates, and others who are concerned with people who have hearing loss.