Final answer:
Humans can hear frequencies ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hz and have the highest auditory acuity between 2000 to 5000 Hz. The wavelength for the upper hearing limit of 20,000 Hz, given the speed of sound is 344 m/s, is approximately 17.2 millimeters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human auditory system is capable of detecting a wide range of frequencies, specifically from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Frequencies below 20 Hz are referred to as infrasound, while those above 20,000 Hz are considered ultrasound. Notably, humans have the highest acuity for frequencies between 2000 to 5000 Hz, which corresponds to the range where our ears are most sensitive. Moreover, we can typically discriminate between two sounds if their frequencies differ by 0.3% or more.
Calculating the wavelength for the upper limit of human hearing (20,000 Hz) using the speed of sound in air (344 m/s), the wavelength (λ) is obtained by the formula λ = v/f where v is the speed of sound and f is the frequency. Thus, for a frequency of 20,000 Hz, λ = 344 m/s / 20,000 Hz = 0.0172 meters or 17.2 millimeters.