NCIDQ IDFX Practice Exam

What is an example of a flanking path for sound travel?

1. Windows

2. A/C ducts

3. Walls

4. Furniture

The correct answer is: A/C ducts

A flanking path for sound travel refers to an alternative route that sound waves can take to bypass barriers designed to minimize noise transmission, such as walls or ceilings. Air-conditioning ducts provide a prime example of this concept. When sound travels through a space, it can take advantage of inconspicuous paths, such as ducts, that are interconnected within a building's structure. If a room has walls that would normally contain sound, sound waves can still move through the air or along these ducts, allowing them to reach areas that might otherwise be shielded from that noise. In contrast, windows, walls, and furniture do not inherently serve as flanking paths in the same way that ductwork does, as they are primarily intended to provide structural barriers or surfaces rather than conduits for sound. While furniture may affect sound absorption and reverberation, it does not facilitate sound travel in the way that ducts can. Therefore, air-conditioning ducts represent a clear and functional example of a flanking path because they can carry sound from one space to another, circumventing traditional sound barriers.