Answer: If sound waves did not blend (overtones) to produce unique sound qualities, the only two variables among sound waves would be amplitude and frequency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amplitude is the measure of the strength or intensity of a sound wave. It is determined by the amount of energy in the wave, and it is often represented by the height or size of the wave. A sound wave with a high amplitude will be louder than a sound wave with a low amplitude.
Frequency is the measure of how often a sound wave oscillates or vibrates. It is measured in hertz (Hz) and determines the pitch of the sound. A sound wave with a high frequency will have a higher pitch than a sound wave with a low frequency.
When sound waves blend together, they create overtones, which are additional frequency components above the fundamental frequency of the sound. These overtones are responsible for the unique sound qualities of different instruments, voices, and other sound sources. They allow us to hear the different harmonics and timbre of a sound.
If overtones did not blend together, each sound would only have a single frequency component, and all sounds would have a similar quality. For example, all instruments would sound the same, and it would be difficult to distinguish between different instruments. Similarly, all voices would sound the same and it would be difficult to distinguish between different people talking.