The Auditory System Module Map

Purpose  To explain how we hear and how the physical nature of the sound wave determines the quality of the sound experience.

Summary  The student is asked to locate the parts of the ear on a drawing. Then the module simulates the transmission of a sound wave through the outer, middle, and inner ear and shows how the cochlea converts the mechanical energy to neural impulses. Next it explains the concepts of frequency, amplitude, and waveform and shows how these aspects of the sound wave are related to the experience of pitch, loudness, and timbre.
Auditory system tasks
Structure of the ear
   Outer ear
   Middle Ear
   Inner Ear
The sound wave
   Drawing the sound wave
Sound wave characteristics
   Frequency
   Amplitude
   Waveform
 		Hearing the sound
   Transmitting the sound
The cochlea
   The basilar membrane
   Generating neural impulses
   Passing the message to the brain
Summary
References


Click here to open the worksheet that accompanies this module. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to get Adobe Acrobat Reader. Internet connection required to download plug-in.)