Acoustic phonetics is a branch of phonetics that studies the physical properties of speech sounds. It focuses on how sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived, analyzing their frequency, amplitude, and duration. This field uses tools like spectrograms to visualize sound waves, helping researchers understand the characteristics of different speech sounds. In acoustic phonetics, sounds are categorized into various types, such as vowels and consonants, based on their acoustic features. By examining these properties, scientists can gain insights into how speech sounds function in different languages and dialects, contributing to fields like linguistics, speech therapy, and language technology.