30 Questions
What is the range of frequencies that form audible sound waves?
20 Hz-20 KHz
Why does the perception of sound change a lot depending on the person?
Due to differences in hearing thresholds
What is the term for the perception of sound intensity?
Loudness
What happens to the threshold of hearing as one gets older?
It increases
What is the term for sound waves with frequencies below 20 Hz?
Infrasound
What is the relationship between the physical stimulus of sound and its perception?
Perception is different from the physical stimulus
What is the main reason for the amplification of pressure waves in the human ear?
The ratio of the area of the eardrum to the area of the oval window
What is the effect of a hole in the membrane on the threshold of hearing?
It increases the threshold of hearing
What characteristic of sound is defined as the frequency of the incoming sound waves?
Pitch
What is the role of the ossicles in the middle ear?
To amplify pressure waves
What would be the effect of problems in the ossicles on the amplification factor?
It would decrease the amplification factor
What are the two main amplification factors in the human ear?
The ratio of the area of the eardrum to the area of the oval window and the levers formed by the ossicles
What type of wave is perceived in the process of hearing?
Pressure wave
What is the role of the outer ear in the process of hearing?
To convey the pressure wave to the eardrum
What is the function of the three ossicles in the middle ear?
To transport the vibration of the eardrum to the oval window
What is the main component of the fluid in the cochlea?
Water
Why is the specific mechanism of transferring the oscillation from air to water necessary in the ear?
To trigger an electrical impulse from the basilar membrane
What is the outcome of the stimulation of the eardrum by the pressure wave?
The eardrum oscillates around its equilibrium position
What is the minimum intensity required for a person to hear a sound?
Io
What is the maximum sound level that can be tolerated by the human ear without causing permanent damage?
120 dB
What is the range of frequencies that a person with normal hearing can perceive?
20 Hz to 20 KHz
What is the purpose of the threshold for hearing?
To determine the minimum intensity required to trigger a response
What is the unit of measurement for sound pressure level?
dB
Why is it not possible to reach a sound level of 0 dB?
Because it is impossible to reach absolute silence
What is the main reason why the majority of the pressure wave cannot be transmitted from air to water?
The density of water is roughly 1000 times the density of air
What is the purpose of the 3 ossicles in the mechanism of hearing?
To amplify the sound wave
What happens to the oscillation after it crosses the oval window?
It ascends along the spiral cochlea and then passes through the connection to the other channel
Where is the nerve impulse generated in the mechanism of hearing?
In the cochlea, along the basilar membrane
Why is it necessary to have a more complex system of hearing, involving the 3 ossicles and the cochlea?
To amplify the sound wave to overcome the difference in acoustic impedance
What would happen to the pressure wave if it were transmitted directly from air to water?
The P wave in the water would be imperceptible
Learn about the amplification factors that enable sound waves to be perceived by the nerves. This quiz covers the role of the eardrum and oval window in sound transmission.
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