Wednesday, September 20, 2023 The ear

Task on entry Is a back and forth oscillation that

1) What is a wave? transfers energy.

2) Draw a transverse wave The vibrations are at right angles to

the direction of wave travel. number
of different

3) Draw a longitudinal wave

The vibrations are parallel to the
direction of wave travel.

4) What does sound travel faster in? Solid, Liquids and gases. Explain your
answer. In solids particles/molecules are much closer together
allowing vibrations/oscillations to be passed on much
quicker. (the opposite occurs -> liquids -> gas)
Wednesday,
September 20, Sound Waves Key Stage 3
2023

HPL focus
Learning Objectives:
To understand how sound waves work
Collaborative
Success Criteria
Diagram
• I can label the ear
• I can describe the parts of the ear
• I can explain why hearing can be difficult

Literacy/ Numeracy: Wave, peak, trough, wavelength, frequency, particles,

amplitude, rarefaction, compression, volume
 Connect
What is sound?

Sound waves are longitudinal waves. A source such as a guitar string or speaker vibrates,
pushing and pulling air molecules back and forth. These air molecules push other air
molecules back and forth so the energy is transferred out from the source.
 Activate
Things that make you go hmmm

1)
https://www.echalk.co.uk/Science/biology/hearing/HowOldIsYourHeari
ng/resource.html

2) Why is it that some people can hear

higher frequency sounds than others?
Our Ears
The human ear is incredible! Ears can sense
sound in the form of vibrations and send and
receive signals from the brain.
Pinna

The pinna is made of cartilage covered by skin.

It funnels sound into the ear canal.
Ear Canal

The ear canal is a short tube that transmits sound

from the pinna to the eardrum.
Eardrum

The eardrum is a thin, tough layer of tissue at the end of

the auditory canal. Sound waves make the eardrum vibrate.
Ear Bones

Ear bones, or ossicles, are three tiny bones that amplify and
transmit the vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea.
Cochlea

The cochlea is an organ filled with fluid. Receptor cells change vibrations in
the fluid into electrical impulses.
The cochlea
Auditory Nerve

The auditory nerve contains sensory neurons that

send information to the brain for processing.
Eustachian Tube

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasal cavity.
It regulates the pressure within the ear.
Consolidate
Demonstrate
 Studying sound waves
Sound waves can be studied with this type of equipment.
loudspeaker
oscilloscope

signal generator

A loudspeaker
converts signals from An oscilloscope shows wave
the signal generator A signal generator patterns and allows us to
into sound waves. produces different types ‘see’ sound.
of signals.
 Loudness and amplitude
A sound can be quiet or loud.

quiet sound loud sound

On an oscilloscope trace, the loudness of a sound is shown by the height of the wave.
This is called the amplitude.

Which word should be crossed out in this sentence?

The larger the amplitude of the wave on the trace, the louder/quieter the
sound.
 Which is the loudest?
Which trace represents the loudest sound?

A B
Sound A is the loudest.

Sound A has the largest amplitude (i.e. the tallest waves), so it is the loudest of these
two sounds.
 Pitch and frequency
A sound can be high or low – this is the pitch of the sound.

low pitch sound high pitch sound

On an oscilloscope trace, the pitch of a sound is shown by how many waves there are.
This is called the frequency.

Which word should be crossed out in this sentence?

The greater the number of waves across the oscilloscope trace, the lower/higher the
frequency and pitch.
 Which is the highest?
Which trace represents the sound with the highest pitch?

A B
Sound B is the highest pitched.

Sound B has the most number of waves across the oscilloscope – it has the
highest frequency and so has the highest pitch.