Question 1

Stephanie is working on a research project that is investigating the effects of sonar on marine mammal communication. Her recordings of whale songs are most likely to include which of the following types of sound?
A) noise
B) pure tones
C) infrasound
D) ultrasound

Accepted Answer

Whale songs often include infrasound, which are low-frequency sounds that can travel long distances underwater and are used by whales for communication.

Question 2

A low frequency sound wave is perceived as
A) quiet.
B) loud.
C) high pitched.
D) low pitched.

Accepted Answer

A low frequency sound wave is perceived as having a low pitch, or a deep sound. It may not necessarily be quiet or loud, as volume is determined by the amplitude of the wave, not its frequency. High pitched sounds have a higher frequency.

Question 3

Which of the following structures are found in the outer ear?
A) the pinna and auditory canal
B) the pinna and the tympanic membrane
C) the auditory canal and the tympanic membrane
D) the auditory canal and the oval window

Accepted Answer

The pinna and auditory canal are both structures found in the outer ear. The tympanic membrane is found in the middle ear, and the oval window is found in the inner ear.

Question 4

High amplitude sound waves are perceived as
A) quiet.
B) loud.
C) high pitched.
D) low pitched.

Accepted Answer

High amplitude sound waves are perceived as loud because they have a greater intensity or energy, resulting in a greater movement of the eardrum and a stronger perception of sound.

Question 5

Sounds with frequencies above the range of human hearing are referred to as
A) fundamental frequencies.
B) pure tones.
C) ultrasound.
D) infrasound.

Accepted Answer

Frequencies above 20,000 Hz are considered ultrasonic and cannot be heard by humans. Therefore, ultrasound is the correct term for sounds with frequencies above the range of human hearing.

Question 6

Roy works at a job where he had to wear noise-reducing headphones since the decibel level exceeds _____, and he doesn't want to hurt or damage his ears.
A) 130
B) 115
C) 95
D) 80

Accepted Answer

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), exposure to noise levels above 130 decibels (dB) for more than one minute can cause permanent hearing damage. It is required by law for employers to provide hearing protection for employees exposed to noise levels above this threshold. Therefore, Roy is wearing noise-reducing headphones to protect his ears while working in an environment with high noise levels.

Question 7

Sounds with frequencies below the range of human hearing are referred to as
A) fundamental frequencies.
B) pure tones.
C) ultrasound.
D) infrasound.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for sounds with frequencies below the range of human hearing is infrasound. Fundamental frequencies refer to the lowest frequency of a complex waveform, pure tones are sounds with a single frequency, and ultrasound refers to sounds with frequencies above the range of human hearing.

Question 8

Sound waves that do not show a regular, repeating pattern are perceived as
A) loud.
B) soft.
C) pure tones.
D) noise.

Accepted Answer

Sound waves that do not show a regular, repeating pattern are perceived as noise.

Question 9

In the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the "Fat Lady" painting tries to break a glass with the high-pitched, loud sound of her singing voice alone. Which type of sound stimulus is the Fat Lady trying to produce?
A) high amplitude, low frequency
B) high amplitude, high frequency
C) low amplitude, low frequency
D) low amplitude, high frequency

Accepted Answer

The Fat Lady is trying to produce a sound with high amplitude (loudness) and high frequency (pitch). This is evident from the fact that she is trying to break a glass with her singing voice, which requires a high intensity of sound waves. Furthermore, high-pitched sounds have a higher frequency compared to low-pitched sounds. Therefore, option B (high amplitude, high frequency) is the most suitable choice.

Question 10

The _________ forms the boundary between the outer and middle ear, whereas the _________ forms the boundary between the middle and inner ear.
A) tympanic membrane; oval window
B) oval window; tympanic membrane
C) round window; oval window
D) oval window; round window

Accepted Answer

The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The oval window, located in the middle ear, separates the middle ear from the inner ear.

Question 11

Jessica's band teacher was teaching the class about how different classes of instruments like brass and woodwind sound different even if you are playing the same note. She had a trumpet and a clarinet, each plays a G. The differences Jessica heard between the two instruments are due to the _________ of the resulting sounds.
A) timbre
B) hertz
C) amplitude
D) pitch

Accepted Answer

The differences in sound due to different instruments playing the same note are due to timbre, which refers to the quality of the sound produced. Hertz refers to the frequency of the sound wave, amplitude refers to the magnitude or volume of the sound wave, and pitch refers to the perceived highness or lowness of the sound. While all of these factors contribute to the overall sound of an instrument, timbre is the most relevant in this scenario.

Question 12

Sound waves with a single frequency are known as
A) pure tones, which are rare in nature.
B) pure tones, which are common in nature.
C) complex tones, which are rare in nature.
D) noise, which is common in nature.

Accepted Answer

Pure tones are sound waves with a single frequency. While they are rare in nature, they can be produced artificially through instruments such as tuning forks or electronic synthesizers.

Question 13

When Daniel drives down the street, other people stop and stare because of the loud, low-pitched sounds coming from the new sound system in his car. What types of sound waves are coming from Daniel's car?
A) high amplitude, low frequency
B) high amplitude, high frequency
C) low amplitude, low frequency
D) low amplitude, high frequency

Accepted Answer

The loud, low-pitched sounds indicate high amplitude (loudness) and low frequency (pitch).

Question 14

Brandon's teeth are stained from his constant coffee drinking, so his dentist recommended that he switch to a new electric toothbrush that not only brushes teeth very rapidly, but also uses sound to reduce plaque and staining. What kind of sound is most likely generated by Brandon's new toothbrush?
A) infrasound
B) ultrasound
C) pure tones
D) noise

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound waves have high frequency and can be used to disrupt plaque and stains on teeth, making them a likely sound generated by Brandon's new toothbrush. Infrasound has a low frequency and is not typically used in dental care. Pure tones are single frequency sounds and noise is a mixture of frequencies, neither of which are specifically tailored for dental care.

Question 15

The outer and middle ears both transmit sound through _________, and the inner ear uses a _________ medium in the process of transducing sound waves to electrical energy.
A) bone; mucous
B) liquid; mucous
C) air; liquid
D) air; sodium

Accepted Answer

The outer and middle ears transmit sound through air, while the inner ear uses a liquid (specifically, a fluid called endolymph) as the medium for transducing sound waves to electrical energy.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT one of the ossicles?
A) the malleus
B) the incus
C) the pinna
D) the stapes

Accepted Answer

The pinna, also known as the auricle, is the visible part of the outer ear that collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal. It is not one of the three small bones (ossicles) in the middle ear known as the malleus, incus, and stapes.

Question 17

Decibels (dB) are used to measure a sound's
A) pitch.
B) frequency.
C) intensity.
D) harmonics.

Accepted Answer

Decibels (dB) are used to measure the intensity or loudness of a sound.

Question 18

Tennille is studying for a quiz on the auditory system. She writes in her notes that hertz are the units used to measure sound's
A) loudness.
B) intensity.
C) frequency.
D) timbre.

Accepted Answer

Hertz (Hz) is the unit of measurement for frequency, which is the number of sound waves per second. Loudness is measured in decibels, intensity is the amount of energy in the soundwave, and timbre refers to the unique quality of a sound.

Question 19

Zakoria is making a model of the human ear for a class project. She decides to use clay to create the visible, outer structure called the ______.
A) cochlea
B) incus
C) eustachian tube
D) pinna

Accepted Answer

The visible, outer structure of the human ear is called the pinna, which is the part that is typically sculpted in models or depicted in illustrations. The cochlea, incus, and eustachian tube are all internal structures of the ear.

Question 20

The primary function of the ossicles is to
A) transfer sound energy from the air of the middle ear to the fluid of the inner ear.
B) transfer sound energy from the fluid of the middle ear to the air of the inner ear.
C) funnel sound.
D) prevent damage from loud noises.

Accepted Answer

The ossicles, consisting of the malleus, incus, and stapes, transfer sound energy from the air in the middle ear to the fluid in the inner ear through the oval window, which is the connection between the two chambers. This transfer of energy is necessary for the efficient transmission of sound waves and proper hearing.

Quiz 7: Nonvisual Sensation and Perception

Stephanie is working on a research project that is investigating the effects of sonar on marine mammal communication. Her recordings of whale songs are most likely to include which of the following types of sound?

A low frequency sound wave is perceived as

Which of the following structures are found in the outer ear?

High amplitude sound waves are perceived as

Sounds with frequencies above the range of human hearing are referred to as

Roy works at a job where he had to wear noise-reducing headphones since the decibel level exceeds _____, and he doesn't want to hurt or damage his ears.

Sounds with frequencies below the range of human hearing are referred to as

Sound waves that do not show a regular, repeating pattern are perceived as

In the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the "Fat Lady" painting tries to break a glass with the high-pitched, loud sound of her singing voice alone. Which type of sound stimulus is the Fat Lady trying to produce?

The _ forms the boundary between the outer and middle ear, whereas the _ forms the boundary between the middle and inner ear.

Sound waves with a single frequency are known as

When Daniel drives down the street, other people stop and stare because of the loud, low-pitched sounds coming from the new sound system in his car. What types of sound waves are coming from Daniel's car?

Brandon's teeth are stained from his constant coffee drinking, so his dentist recommended that he switch to a new electric toothbrush that not only brushes teeth very rapidly, but also uses sound to reduce plaque and staining. What kind of sound is most likely generated by Brandon's new toothbrush?

The outer and middle ears both transmit sound through _, and the inner ear uses a _ medium in the process of transducing sound waves to electrical energy.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ossicles?

Decibels (dB) are used to measure a sound's

Tennille is studying for a quiz on the auditory system. She writes in her notes that hertz are the units used to measure sound's

Zakoria is making a model of the human ear for a class project. She decides to use clay to create the visible, outer structure called the ______.

The primary function of the ossicles is to