What fundamental material property served as the baseline for centuries of early sound transmission impediment?
Answer
The sheer mass and density provided by thick stone walls and heavy timber.
Before the advent of engineered acoustic materials, the primary method for resisting sound transmission relied on the brute force of construction density. Thick stone walls, heavy timber framing, and deep, solid construction inherently impeded noise because the substantial weight and density of the structure made it physically difficult for sound waves to impart enough kinetic energy to vibrate the mass sufficiently to radiate noise on the opposite side. This reliance on mass was the default, passive method of sound control throughout much of architectural history.
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