Ears and Hearing

Front

What is the eardrum?

Back

The eardrum is a thin membrane stretched tightly across the ear canal that vibrates when sound waves hit it.

Front

What happens when the eardrum vibrates?

Back

When the eardrum vibrates, it sends sound waves into the middle ear.

Front

What is the cochlea?

Back

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that helps convert sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Front

What shape does the cochlea resemble?

Back

The cochlea resembles a snail's shell.

Front

What are sound waves?

Back

Sound waves are vibrations in the air that travel to our ears.

Front

How does sound travel to our ears?

Back

Sound travels through the air as waves, which are detected by our ears.

Front

What is the outer ear?

Back

The outer ear is the part of the ear that is visible and collects sound waves.

Front

What is the middle ear?

Back

The middle ear contains tiny bones that help amplify sound vibrations.

Front

What is the function of the cochlea?

Back

The cochlea converts sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

Front

How quickly can we hear sounds?

Back

We can hear sounds quicker than the time it takes to read a sentence.