KS3 Questions on Sound
Q8. The diagram below shows part of the human ear.
![](pic8.png)
We can hear somebody speaking because sound waves enter our ears.
(a)
(i) What do our eardrums do when sound waves reach them?
The eardrum vibrates.![](../../../graphics/symbols/nuclides/ticksmall.png)
1 mark
(ii) Sometimes a lot of wax is produced in the ear. The wax rests against the eardrum, as shown above. Give one reason why we cannot hear very well when our ears contain a lot of wax.
any one
from
- it stops some of the sound waves reaching the eardrum
- it absorbs some of the soundwaves
- the eardrum vibrates less
- soundwaves are reflected by the wax
1 mark
(b) The table below shows the lowest and highest frequencies that five living things can hear.
living thing |
lowest frequency (Hz) |
highest frequency (Hz) |
human |
20 |
20 000 |
sparrow |
300 |
20 000 |
dog |
20 |
45 000 |
cat |
20 |
64 000 |
rabbit |
300 |
42 000 |
(i) Which three living things from the table cannot hear a frequency of 43 000 Hz?
Human, sparrow and rabbit. ![](../../../graphics/symbols/nuclides/ticksmall.png)
1 mark
(ii) From the table, choose the living thing that can hear the biggest range of frequencies.
cat ![](../../../graphics/symbols/nuclides/ticksmall.png)
1 mark
maximum 4 marks