What are infrasonics?

Educational and Fun Activities


Written by Alexandra Stone

16 September 2024

🕓 4 min

Sound is an everyday part of our lives, but there’s a world of sound we cannot hear. Infrasonics is a part of this hidden world, involving sound frequencies that are too low for the human ear to detect. But what exactly are infrasonics, and why are they important?

1. The Science of Infrasonics


Infrasonics refers to sound waves with frequencies lower than 20 Hz. These sounds fall below the typical hearing range for humans, which generally spans from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. While we can’t hear infrasonic waves, many animals can detect them, and they have various natural and technological uses.

Some natural occurrences that produce infrasonic waves include:

  • Earthquakes: The ground shifts produce low-frequency sound waves that travel through the earth.


  • Volcanic eruptions: These release infrasonic waves detectable from far distances.


  • Storms and tornadoes: Powerful weather events generate infrasonics, which can help scientists predict and monitor severe weather.

Explore more about natural sound phenomena in our post Wild as Wind: The Sounds of Winds and Storms, where we delve into how different types of winds create unique soundscapes.

2. Why Are Infrasonics Important?


Even though we can’t hear infrasonics, they play an important role in the natural world and in technology. For instance, animals like elephants and whales communicate over long distances using infrasonic sound. This ability is crucial for their survival, especially in vast spaces like oceans or savannas.

Scientists also use infrasonics to monitor natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The low-frequency waves can travel through the Earth and provide early warnings, potentially saving lives.

Learn more about how sound impacts human and animal life in our blog The Amazing World of Sound: Discover the Secrets of How We Hear!.

3. Can Humans Detect Infrasonics?


Although humans can't hear infrasonic waves, they may still feel them. Infrasonics can sometimes cause physical sensations, such as vibrations or discomfort, especially if they are loud or powerful. Some people have reported feelings of unease or anxiety when exposed to strong infrasonic waves, even though they cannot consciously hear them.

This sensory impact has led to research on the possible effects of infrasonics on human health. While more studies are needed, there are theories that prolonged exposure to certain infrasonic frequencies might contribute to feelings of unease or even nausea.

4. Fun Ways to Explore Infrasonics


While we can’t recreate infrasonic waves at home, there are fun experiments you can do with sound that are accessible to kids. For example, you can explore how sound waves travel using objects like tuning forks or elastic bands, showing how sound travels through different materials.

For more ideas on fun sound-related activities, check out How Sound Waves Can Be Fun for Primary School Children, where we cover creative ways to teach sound science at home.

Final Thoughts

Infrasonics might be beyond our hearing range, but its presence in nature and science is undeniable. From helping animals communicate to allowing scientists to monitor natural disasters, these low-frequency waves have a range of important applications.

If your child loves learning about sound, they’ll be thrilled with our Science of Sound holiday camps, where we explore fascinating scientific concepts in fun, hands-on ways. Learn more about our camps and after-school programmes here.

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