Final answer:
The type of sound caused by an object impacting a building element is known as impact sound. It results from energy transferred during the collision of objects, causing vibrations that produce sound waves. This differs from ambient sound, echo, and resonance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of sound in a building that arises from the actual impact of an object on a building element such as a wall, floor, or ceiling is called impact sound. This is different from ambient sound, which is the background noise present in a location, or an echo, which is the reflection of sound after the sound waves hit an obstacle. Resonance is another phenomenon where the system is driven at a frequency equal to the system's natural frequency resulting in an amplified sound.
Impact sounds are created when objects collide, transferring energy that disturbs the air, water, or other matter, creating sound waves. These waves can cause vibrations in the building structure, which we hear as impact sounds. For example, dropping an item on the floor might produce a loud impact sound that can be heard throughout a building.
The perception of sound intensity and pitch is also affected by constructive and destructive interference, which occurs when sound waves overlap. Constructive interference leads to louder sounds, while destructive interference leads to softer sounds. The overall acoustic environment of a room can thus be heavily influenced by these interferences.