Sound absorption reduces noise within a space by absorbing airborne sound. Which concept is this?

• A. Sound Absorption
• B. Transmission Loss
• C. NRC
• D. IIC

Answer: (A)

Sound absorption is the process where materials in a space capture airborne sound energy rather than letting it bounce around. When sound waves hit porous or fibrous materials, the energy is converted into a tiny amount of heat within the material, reducing reflections and reverberation. This makes the room feel quieter and speech easier to understand because less energy remains in the air. The other terms describe related ideas but not the act itself: transmission loss is about reducing sound that passes through a barrier, IIC relates to impact sounds between floors, and NRC is a rating that measures how well a material absorbs sound—not the absorption process itself.