Audible facts for kids
Audible is a word with a few different meanings. Most often, it means something that can be heard by our ears. It also refers to a special play call in American football and the name of a popular online store for audiobooks. Let's explore these different uses of the word "audible."
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What is Audible Sound?
A sound is something we can hear. For a sound to be "audible," it means it's loud enough and at the right frequency for human ears to pick up. Sounds are made when things vibrate, like a guitar string or your vocal cords. These vibrations create sound waves that travel through the air, water, or even solid objects.
How We Hear Sounds
When sound waves reach your ear, they cause your eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then sent to tiny bones in your middle ear, and finally to your inner ear. Your inner ear has special cells that turn these vibrations into electrical signals. These signals then travel to your brain, which interprets them as the sounds you hear, like music, voices, or a car horn.
Audible in American Football
In American football, an "audible" is a special play call made by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage. This happens just before the ball is snapped. Usually, the coach sends in a play, but sometimes the quarterback sees something in the defense that makes them want to change the play.
Why Quarterbacks Use Audibles
Quarterbacks use audibles to quickly adjust their team's strategy. For example, if the original play call was a running play, but the quarterback sees that the defense is ready to stop a run, they might yell out an audible. This changes the play to a pass or a different type of run, hoping to surprise the defense and gain more yards. It's a way for the quarterback to be smart and react quickly to what's happening on the field.
Audible.com: A World of Audiobooks
Audible.com is a very popular online store where you can buy and listen to audiobooks. It was started in 1995 and is now owned by Amazon. Think of it like a library or bookstore, but instead of physical books, you get to listen to stories, novels, and non-fiction books read aloud by narrators.
What are Audiobooks?
Audiobooks are recordings of books being read aloud. They are perfect for listening when you are doing other things, like traveling, exercising, or just relaxing. Many audiobooks are read by professional actors, and some are even read by the authors themselves. Audible.com has a huge collection, from best-selling novels to educational content and podcasts.