Question 1

When Yuki dropped the plate, it clattered loudly on the floor.The plate produced a ______.
A)low pitch
B)high pitch
C)low amplitude
D)high amplitude

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

The subjective experience of sound that is most closely associated with the frequency of a sound stimulus, related to the experience of whether the sound is high or low, is known as ______.
A)frequency
B)timbre
C)tuning
D)pitch

Accepted Answer

The subjective experience of sound that is most closely associated with the frequency of a sound stimulus and related to the experience of whether the sound is high or low is known as pitch.

Question 3

Sound waves are ______.
A)electromagnetic radiation that travels much more slowly than light
B)the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a function of the vibration of a source
C)the interaction of the processes of our inner ear with those of the outer ear
D)the static transmission of particles through the ether

Accepted Answer

Sound waves are the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a function of the vibration of a source. They travel through a medium, such as air, and are not electromagnetic radiation. Sound waves are also responsible for our sense of hearing. They cause our eardrums to vibrate, which sends signals to our brain that we interpret as sound.

Question 4

Yvette could barely hear the soft whisper.The whisper has a very ______.
A)low amplitude
B)high amplitude
C)low frequency
D)high frequency

Accepted Answer

Amplitude refers to the volume or intensity of a sound wave. A low amplitude wave would be quieter, which would make it difficult to hear a whisper.

Question 5

The perceived sound differences between sounds with the same pitch but possessing different higher harmonics is known as ______.
A)stapes
B)amplitude
C)decibel
D)timbre

Accepted Answer

The perceived sound differences between sounds with the same pitch but possessing different higher harmonics is known as timbre. Timbre is what allows us to distinguish between different instruments playing the same note or different voices singing the same note. The stapes are three small bones in the middle ear, amplitude is the magnitude or strength of a sound wave, and decibel is a unit of measurement for sound intensity.

Question 6

Sound travels ______ in water than it does in air, but sound travels ______ relative to light.
A)slower; slower
B)faster; faster
C)faster; slower
D)slower; faster

Accepted Answer

Sound travels faster in water than in air because water is denser, allowing sound waves to travel more quickly. However, sound travels much slower than light in any medium, as light travels at a speed of approximately 299,792 kilometers per second in a vacuum, and sound's speed is orders of magnitude slower.

Question 7

What function do the ossicles serve?
A)They abate loud sounds that might damage the sensitive tympanic membrane.
B)They amplify the sound as sound goes from an air environment to a liquid environment.
C)They protect the hair cells of the cochlea.
D)The provide structure that supports the hard shell of the cochlea.

Accepted Answer

The ossicles amplify the sound as it travels from an air-filled environment (outer ear and middle ear) to a liquid-filled environment (inner ear), allowing for better transmission of sound vibrations to the cochlea.

Answer A is incorrect because while the ossicles do help protect the inner ear from loud sounds, this is not their primary function.

Answer C is incorrect because the hair cells of the cochlea are not directly protected by the ossicles.

Answer D is incorrect because the ossicles are not involved in supporting the hard shell of the cochlea - this is the role of other structures within the inner ear.

Question 8

When a piccolo plays a high note, that note will definitely have ______.
A)low decibels
B)low hertz
C)high decibels
D)high hertz

Accepted Answer

High notes on a piccolo or any musical instrument correspond to high frequencies, which are measured in hertz (Hz). Higher frequencies mean the note is higher pitched.

Question 9

The physical unit that measures sound amplitude is known as the ______.
A)decibel
B)hertz
C)gelb
D)ampere

Accepted Answer

The physical unit that measures sound amplitude is the decibel (dB). Hertz measures frequency, gelb is not a valid unit for sound and ampere measures electric current.

Question 10

A tuba has a low pitch.As a result, it has a ______.
A)low central harmonic
B)high central harmonic
C)low fundamental frequency
D)high fundamental frequency

Accepted Answer

The pitch of a musical instrument is determined by its fundamental frequency, which is the frequency of the lowest and loudest sound produced by the instrument. Since a tuba has a low pitch, it has a low fundamental frequency. Therefore, the correct choice is C, low fundamental frequency. Choices A and B refer to the concept of harmonics, which are the overtones or higher frequency components that contribute to the timbre of the sound. While a low-pitched instrument like a tuba will have lower harmonics, it's not the best choice for this question. Choice D, high fundamental frequency, is incorrect because a tuba has a low pitch, as stated in the question.

Question 11

A sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a sine wave pattern is known as a(n) ______.
A)timbre wave
B)amplitude wave
C)low noise signal
D)pure tone

Accepted Answer

A sine wave pattern is a simple, smooth waveform that represents a single, pure tone. Therefore, the correct term for this type of sound wave is a pure tone.

Question 12

A sound at 160 decibels is considered ______, whereas a sound at 20 decibels is considered ______.
A)soft; inaudible
B)dangerously loud; soft
C)high-pitched; low-pitched
D)complex; simple

Accepted Answer

A sound at 160 decibels is dangerously loud and can cause immediate physical harm to humans, such as hearing loss or ruptured eardrums. On the other hand, a sound at 20 decibels is soft and could be considered inaudible if there is background noise or if the listener is far away from the source of the sound. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 13

As adults get older, which of the following occurs?
A)Their ability to assimilate pitch grows stronger.
B)Their ability to assimilate pitch grows weaker.
C)Their auditory imagery tends to occur at lower amplitude.
D)They lose the ability to hear high frequencies.

Accepted Answer

As adults get older, they experience presbycusis, which is the gradual loss of hearing that typically affects high-frequency sounds first. This means that they may find it difficult to hear sounds like birdsong, high-pitched instruments, and children's voices.

Question 14

A mathematical procedure for taking any complex waveform and determining the simpler waveforms that make up that complex pattern is known as ______.
A)Fourier analysis
B)Hertz-Feingold analysis
C)temporal matching
D)binaural waveform analysis

Accepted Answer

The mathematical procedure described in the question is Fourier analysis, which involves breaking down a complex waveform into its constituent sine waves of different frequencies. Hertz-Feingold analysis and binaural waveform analysis are not commonly used terms in signal processing, and temporal matching does not refer specifically to the process of breaking down complex waveforms.

Question 15

Higher frequencies present in a complex sound that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency (main frequency) are known as ______.
A)timbre waves
B)binaural components
C)harmonics
D)pianofortes

Accepted Answer

These higher frequencies are called harmonics and are important in determining the timbre or quality of a sound.

Question 16

The thin elastic sheet that vibrates in response to sounds coming through the external auditory canal, commonly known as the eardrum, is the ______.
A)auditory meatus
B)tensor tympani
C)oval window
D)tympanic membrane

Accepted Answer

The thin elastic sheet that vibrates in response to sounds coming through the external auditory canal is the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. Choices A, B, and C refer to other structures of the ear.

Question 17

The three small bones in the middle ear are collectively known as ______.
A)pinnae
B)stapes
C)vestibular bones
D)ossicles

Accepted Answer

The three small bones in the middle ear - the malleus, incus, and stapes - are collectively known as ossicles.

Question 18

A thin tube that connects the middle ear with the pharynx and serves to equalize air pressure on either side of the eardrum is known as the ______.
A)tensor tympani
B)Eustachian tube
C)tympanic tube
D)malleus

Accepted Answer

The tube that connects the middle ear with the pharynx and maintains equal air pressure on either side of the eardrum is called the Eustachian tube. The other options listed are structures within the ear itself, and do not have a direct role in equalizing air pressure.

Question 19

The amount of time between one peak of high pressure and the next in sound is known as ______.
A)the electromagnetic element
B)the sound spectrogram
C)a cycle
D)a rarefied invertebrate

Accepted Answer

The amount of time between one peak of high pressure and the next in sound is known as a cycle. A cycle represents one complete waveform or vibration, including both a peak and a trough. Options A, B, and D are unrelated to the concept described.

Question 20

The channel that conducts sound from the pinna to the tympanic membrane is known as the ______.
A)pinnae
B)external auditory canal
C)internal auditory canal
D)tympanic pathway

Accepted Answer

The external auditory canal, also known as the ear canal or external auditory meatus, is the channel that conducts sound from the pinna to the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The internal auditory canal is a different structure that connects the ear to the brain. Pinnae are the external, visible parts of the ears. The term "tympanic pathway" is not commonly used to refer to this specific structure.

Quiz 10: The Auditory System

When Yuki dropped the plate, it clattered loudly on the floor.The plate produced a ______.

The subjective experience of sound that is most closely associated with the frequency of a sound stimulus, related to the experience of whether the sound is high or low, is known as ______.

Sound waves are ______.

Yvette could barely hear the soft whisper.The whisper has a very ______.

The perceived sound differences between sounds with the same pitch but possessing different higher harmonics is known as ______.

Sound travels in water than it does in air, but sound travels relative to light.

What function do the ossicles serve?

When a piccolo plays a high note, that note will definitely have ______.

The physical unit that measures sound amplitude is known as the ______.

A tuba has a low pitch.As a result, it has a ______.

A sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a sine wave pattern is known as a(n) ______.

A sound at 160 decibels is considered , whereas a sound at 20 decibels is considered .

As adults get older, which of the following occurs?

A mathematical procedure for taking any complex waveform and determining the simpler waveforms that make up that complex pattern is known as ______.

Higher frequencies present in a complex sound that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency (main frequency) are known as ______.

The thin elastic sheet that vibrates in response to sounds coming through the external auditory canal, commonly known as the eardrum, is the ______.

The three small bones in the middle ear are collectively known as ______.

A thin tube that connects the middle ear with the pharynx and serves to equalize air pressure on either side of the eardrum is known as the ______.

The amount of time between one peak of high pressure and the next in sound is known as ______.

The channel that conducts sound from the pinna to the tympanic membrane is known as the ______.