Sounds and noises: similarities and differences

Very often Physics students get the impression that the reality they see and the one they measure, even in the lab, is just a draft version of what is considered as the real world, which for sure is the world where laws and models work. Observation of complex but real situations is not allowed until students are skilled in the use of suitable mathematical tools. One example is the meaning of 'wave spectrum’ which is generally introduced as a result of the Fourier Theorem. This paper shows a multimedia unit prototype, accessible through the web, with the aim of enhancing the learning of similarities and differences between sounds and noises. The unit is based on a particular tool, the hear&see tool, designed to explore the meaning of wave spectrum