subsonic etymology

Etymology:

• Latin "sub" (under) + "sonus" (sound)

Meaning and Origin:

Subsonic refers to speeds or frequencies below the speed of sound. The term was originally coined in the context of aerodynamics to describe the flow of air around an aircraft or projectile moving below the speed of Mach 1 (approximately 767 mph or 1,235 km/h at sea level).

In the case of sound, subsonic refers to frequencies below the threshold of human hearing, which is typically considered to be around 20 Hz (20 cycles per second). Subsonic sound waves have a wavelength longer than the diameter of the human ear canal and, therefore, cannot be perceived by humans.

Examples of subsonic sound waves include:

• The sound of a large bell tolling
• The rumble of an earthquake
• The low-frequency sound produced by wind turbines
• The vibrations of a subwoofer in a sound system

In addition to aerodynamics and acoustics, the term "subsonic" has also been used in other fields, such as geology and astrophysics, to describe phenomena that occur below the speed of sound or with frequencies below 20 Hz.

subsonic relate terms

• sonic

  Etymology The word sonic originates from the Latin word sonus meaning sound Mean

• supersonic

  Etymology The word supersonic is derived from the Latin prefix super meaning above

• sonic

  Etymology The word sonic originates from the Latin word sonus meaning sound Mean

• ultrasonic

  Etymology Ultra Latin for beyond Sonic Derived from Latin sonus meaning sound

• hypo

  Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

• suggest

  Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymon true meaning and l

• suspect

  Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

• subject

  Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

• percussion

  Etymology Latin percutere to strike through beat upon Proto Indo European per

• aircraft

  Etymology The word aircraft is a combination of two Latin words Aer meaning air

• educate

  Etymology Latin educare e out ducere to lead Meaning To lead out

• shall

  Etymology Origin Old English sceal to owe be obliged from Proto Germanic skula

• contrast

  Feature Etymology Meaning Origin Etymology Greek The stu

• tribe

  Etymology The word tribe comes from the Latin word tribus which referred to one of

• scissors

  Etymology The word scissors is derived from the Old French word ciseor pair of scis

• community

  Community etymology is the process of creating a new word or phrase by re analyzing an exi

• overcome

  Etymology Over from the Old English ofer meaning above or upon Come from the Ol

• bust

  Etymology The word bust has two distinct etymologies depending on its meaning Meaning