Final answer:
The smallest unit of sound that can affect the meaning of speech is the phoneme. When considering human ear sensitivity and the speed of sound at 340 m/s, two speakers must be a minimum of 0.34 meters apart for their sounds to be distinguishable in their arrival times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The smallest unit of sound that can make a difference in what someone is saying is known as a phoneme. Phonemes are the distinct units of sound in a specified language that distinguish one word from another, for example, 'p,' 'b,' 'd,' and 't' in English words like 'pad' and 'pat.'
In relation to the capacity of the human ear to differentiate sounds, the question provided is related to the physics of sound and involves calculating the distance at which sound can be differentiated based on its arrival time at the ear. The ear can distinguish sounds that arrive just 1.00 ms apart. On a day when the speed of sound is 340 m/s, the minimum distance required between two speakers producing such sounds can be found using the formula: Distance = Speed × Time. Thus, Distance = 340 m/s × 1.00 ms = 0.34 meters. Hence, two speakers have to be at least 0.34 meters apart for their sounds to arrive at noticeably different times at the ear.