Waves are transmitted when they pass across a boundary from one material (medium) into another.

The eardrum is a membrane within the ear that is caused to vibrate by incoming sound waves.

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped structure within the ear that creates electrical signals when set vibrating.

Sound waves of frequency below 20 Hz usually cannot be heard by humans, so are called infrasound.

Sound waves of frequency above 20 000 Hz usually cannot be heard by humans, so are called ultrasound.

Human hearing

Combined science

In the Electromagnetic waves unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about the reflection and refraction of light, other types of electromagnetic radiation in the EM spectrum and the helpful and harmful effects of each type of radiation.

In the Waves unit, pupils learnt about the properties and propagation of transverse and longitudinal waves.

Measuring waves

sound that can't be heard because the amplitude is too low

sound that can't be heard because the frequency is too high

sound that can't be heard because the wavelength is too long

Which options correctly describe what ultrasound is?

Longitudinal waves that are too low frequency for humans to hear are called {{}} waves.

Which is the correct range of frequencies that humans can hear?

Human hearing involves the transmission of waves through different media.

Successful transmission of waves can depend on wave amplitude and frequency.

Only very specific frequencies can be transmitted successfully through the ear.

Identify the **false** statement about wave transmission and human hearing.

The pinna funnels incoming sound into the ear canal.

Oscillating air particles set the ear drum oscillating.

The oscillations are transmitted to the ossicles (three tiny bones).

The oscillations are transmitted to the cochlea.

The cells of the cochlea create electrical signals.

Electrical signals are carried by the auditory nerve to the brain.

Starting with the incoming sound, sort the stages of hearing into the correct order.

at high frequency, air particles won't exert enough force on a solid

at high frequency, air particles will not exert force on a solid for enough time

at high frequency, particles of a solid may be forced to oscillate too far

Which is the correct reason why the transmission of high frequency sound waves is limited?

Sound and ultrasound are which type of wave?

this is set by the amplitude of the sound wave

this is set by the frequency of the sound wave

this is set by the shape of the sound wave

Match each property of sound to the correct feature of sound waves.

All parts of human ears are outside of the head.

The human ear is a uniform structure/tissue, without smaller parts.

The human ear is made up of several smaller parts.

Identify the true statements about the human ear.

Which of the following is **not** found within a human ear? 

Which of these animals **can't** detect ultrasound?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Human hearing

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.