Fw: Daryolys ballots

[FPoodry at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/10/01 10:32:31 AM, lindafowens at netzero.net writes:

>3.)    daryolys: (n) the quietest sound perceptible by humans, equivalent
>to about 1x10^-12W/m^2 of intensity.
>
>Jean-Joseph: Tempting.  Offhand, the numbers look plausible, and the units
>certainly are.  But I'd expect this to be named after some nerd audio 
physicist,
>and it doesn't look much like a name.
>
>Joe: I'm sure there's a word for that..

yes, there is a word for that.  It is "the threshold of hearing" which is 
actually 4 words, symbol I subscript zero.  It is the intensity which other 
sound intensities are compared to when calculating decibels.  I was teaching 
about it at the time, and so uncreatively made it my def.  However, it would 
certainly be more convenient if it were only one word!
-Fran