Which of the following characteristics of sound enables us to distinguish between a man’s voice and a woman’s voice even without seeing them?

The characteristic of sound that enables us to distinguish between a man’s voice and a woman’s voice is timbre. Timbre, also known as the color or quality of a sound, refers to the unique tonal quality that allows a listener to identify different sources of sound, even if they are producing the same pitch and loudness.

1. Pitch: While men generally have deeper voices (lower pitch) and women have higher pitches, pitch alone may not be enough to differentiate voices in every case.

2. Frequency Range: Men and women typically have different frequency ranges in their vocal cords, contributing to the overall timbre of their voices.

3. Harmonics and Overtones: The presence of harmonics and overtones in the sound produced influences the timbre. The way vocal cords vibrate and shape their resonating spaces changes the quality of sound, making each voice unique.

Thus, timbre encompasses not only pitch but also these unique characteristics that combine to create the different sounds we perceive as distinct voices.