Which statement correctly defines reverberation?

• A. The direct sound wave travelling from source to listener
• B. The repeated reflection of sound back to the source in an enclosure
• C. The initial impulse of the sound
• D. The acoustical absorption of a surface

Answer: (B)

Reverberation is the lingering sound you hear after the original sound stops, created by many reflections bouncing around an enclosed space and gradually fading as energy is absorbed. Instead of a single echoed replay, you get a rapid series of overlapping reflections from walls, ceilings, and objects that reach your ears over time, blending into a continuous tail. The direct sound is the first arrival, while reverberation comes from these repeated reflections that return to you from all surfaces, shaping the sense of space.