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# Sound and the Human Ear Sound can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted. **Reflection:** * Hard, flat surfaces reflect sound the most, creating echoes. **Absorption:** * Absorption is not further described in the image but we can assume that soft or porous surfaces absorb sound. **The Human Ear...

# Sound and the Human Ear Sound can be absorbed, reflected, or refracted. **Reflection:** * Hard, flat surfaces reflect sound the most, creating echoes. **Absorption:** * Absorption is not further described in the image but we can assume that soft or porous surfaces absorb sound. **The Human Ear:** The ear is the organ that allows a human to hear sound. * Sound waves pass through the ear canal. * They hit the eardrum, causing vibrations. * Vibrations pass through the ossicles (3 small bones). * The ossicles transmit the vibrations to the semicircular canals. * Sound waves travel through the semicircular canals and into the cochlea. * Inside the cochlea, vibrations in the fluid create electrical signals. * Auditory nerves transfer these signals to the brain. * The brain interprets these signals as sound. **Cochlea:** The cochlea converts vibrations into electrical signals. **Ossicles:** The ossicles are a group of three small bones that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea. **Semi-circular canals:** Involved in balance and movement. **Auditory nerve:** Transmits sensory information from the cochlea to the brain. **Frequency and Pitch:** * Higher frequency sounds (shorter wavelengths), lead to a higher pitch * Lower frequency sounds (longer wavelengths), lead to a lower pitch **Sound Intensity:** * Higher sound intensity (more intense signals) lead to louder sounds **Frequency range:** Average human = 20Hz-20,000Hz **Size and Shape:** The size and shape of a person's ear affects which frequencies they can hear.