Sound Flashcards
What types of waves are sound waves?
Sound waves are longitudinal waves - the vibrations are in the same direction as the direction of travel.
What must sound waves pass through?
Sound waves must pass through a solid, liquid or gas. They cannot travel through empty space.
What are echoes?
Echoes are reflections of sounds.
What are all sounds caused by?
All sounds are caused by vibrations. These vibrations cause a wave to travel.
What surfaces are good at reflecting sound?
Hard, smooth surfaces are particularly good at reflecting sound. This is why empty rooms produce lots of echoes.
What surfaces are good at absorbing sound?
Soft, rough surfaces are good at absorbing sound. This is why rooms with carpets and curtains do not usually produce lots of echoes.
What do sound waves use to travel?
Sound waves use COMPRESSIONS and RAREFRACTIONS to travel.
How can we see the way different frequencies look?
If we turn a sound wave (which is a longitudinal wave) into a transverse wave on a screen we can see how different frequencies would look.
What are the 3 small bones in the eardrum called?
- Hammer
- Anvil
- Stirrup
Vibrations pass through the 3 small bones to a spiral structure. What is it called?
cochlea
Signals are passed from the cochlea to the brain through to the …
auditory nerve
Where do signals go from the auditory nerve?
the brain
What is the outer part of the ear called?
pinna
What sits between the pinna and the eardrum?
ear canal
What happens to wave length as frequency increases?
The waves compress.
