Noise
Noise refers to unwanted sound[1], typically perceived by the ears. It can cause damage to hearing[2]. In physical acoustics, noise often results from irregular or unwanted vibrations transmitted through a medium[3]. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to hearing loss, a condition called deafness. The level of noise is measured in decibels (dB), and sounds above 85 dB can be harmful over time[4].
Noise can also describe data, such as white noise, which lacks meaningful information. Loudspeaker tests often use white noise to assess the frequency response of speakers[5]. In mathematics, noise can also refer to random data, which is often generated without a specific pattern or predictable sequence. This type of noise is useful in fields like cryptography and simulation.[6][7][8]
In electronics, heat causes noise in resistors[9][10], with the amount varying depending on the type of resistor. This is known as thermal noise or Johnson-Nyquist noise[11]. Most audio devices are designed to minimize noise production by using components that reduce unwanted signals[12][13], ensuring a clearer sound.
Another type of noise, called background noise, refers to environmental sounds that are not part of the main sound being observed[14][15]. This can include sounds like traffic, people talking, or machines operating. In some situations, background noise can be helpful, such as in white noise machines used to aid sleep[16].
Related pages
[change | change source]References
[change | change source]- ↑ Britannica, “Noise,” Britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/science/noise-acoustics, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ WHO, “Deafness and hearing loss: Safe listening,” Questions & Answers, https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/deafness-and-hearing-loss-safe-listening, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Britannica, “Sound,” Britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/science/sound-physics, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ CDC/NIOSH, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention,” https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/noise.html, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Britannica, “White noise,” Britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/art/white-noise-music, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ BlueGoat Cyber, “Exploring True Randomness in Cryptography and Security,” blog post (Jan 2024), https://bluegoatcyber.com/blog/exploring-true-randomness-in-cryptography-and-security/, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Menezes, van Oorschot & Vanstone, Handbook of Applied Cryptography, https://cacr.uwaterloo.ca/hac/, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ NIST, “A Statistical Test Suite for Random and Pseudorandom Number Generators for Cryptographic Applications,” NIST SP 800-22 Rev. 1a (April 2010), https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-22/rev-1a/final, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Everything RF, “What Is Thermal Noise?” https://www.everythingrf.com/community/what-is-thermal-noise, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Electronics Notes, “Thermal Noise Calculations,” https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/basic_concepts/electronic-rf-noise/thermal-noise-calculations-calculator-formulas.php, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ https://pearl-hifi.com/06_Lit_Archive/14_Books_Tech_Papers/Johnson-Nyquist%20Noise
- ↑ Texas Instruments, “Common Noise Issues in Audio Codecs,” Application Report SLAA749, July 2017, https://www.ti.com/lit/SLAA749, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Texas Instruments, “Noise, TDMA Noise, and Suppression Techniques,” Application Note SNAA033, May 2013, https://www.ti.com/lit/pdf/SNAA033, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ SVANTEK, “Environmental noise pollution | Measurements | Examples,” https://svantek.com/applications/environmental-noise/, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ International Organization for Standardization, “ISO 1996-1:2016 Acoustics — Description, measurement and assessment of environmental noise — Part 1,” https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/iso/ab527ade-f16b-407b-994b-e5099bf1bb7b/iso-1996-1-2016, accessed May 2025.
- ↑ Harvard Health, “Can white noise really help you sleep better,” https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-white-noise-really-help-you-sleep-better, accessed May 2025.
