GCSE Physics (AQA)

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Hearing Sound

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Waves Waves in air, fluids and solids

Hearing Sound

2:33 Sound Waves
Spec 4.6.1.4
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  • Ears detect vibrations in the air and interpret them as sounds.
  • Diagram shows interior and exterior of an ear, important for hearing sounds.
  • Step 1: Sound waves from the air are transferred to the air in the ear canal.
  • Sound waves are longitudinal waves traveling through vibrations in matter, like air molecules.
  • Energy from sound waves causes air in the ear canal to vibrate, creating a sound wave inside the ear.
  • Step 2: Vibrating air in the ear canal causes the eardrum to vibrate.
  • Eardrum is a thin membrane that vibrates in sync with sound waves, depending on amplitude and frequency.
  • Step 3: Small bones connected to the eardrum vibrate, transferring sound waves to the nerves inside the ear.
  • Vibrations in bones have the same frequency and amplitude as those in the eardrum.
  • Step 4: Nerves transfer waves to the brain, which interprets them as sound.
  • Cochlear nerve creates an electrical signal from bone vibrations, containing frequency and amplitude information.
  • Brain interprets amplitude as volume and frequency as pitch.
  • For physics exams, basic description of sound transfer from ear to brain may be required, but not specific names like cochlear or small bones.

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