Question 1

The part of the human ear that vibrates when sound waves fall on it is the:

Accepted Answer

eardrum (tympanic membrane). Sound waves make the eardrum vibrate; these vibrations are then passed on and amplified.

Question 2

The three tiny bones (ossicles) of the middle ear function to:

Accepted Answer

amplify and transmit the vibrations to the inner ear. The hammer, anvil and stirrup amplify the eardrum's vibrations and pass them to the cochlea.

Question 3

The part of the ear that converts sound vibrations into electrical nerve signals is the:

Accepted Answer

cochlea. The fluid-filled cochlea contains sensory cells that turn vibrations into nerve impulses sent to the brain.

Question 4

The outer, funnel-shaped part of the ear that collects sound waves is the:

Accepted Answer

pinna. The pinna (outer ear) gathers sound and directs it into the ear canal.

Question 5

The correct path of sound through the ear is:

Accepted Answer

pinna → ear canal → eardrum → ossicles → cochlea → auditory nerve. Sound is collected by the pinna, travels down the ear canal to the eardrum, is amplified by the ossicles, converted in the cochlea, and carried by the auditory nerve.

Question 6

The audible range of frequencies for a normal human ear is about:

Accepted Answer

20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Humans hear roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz; below is infrasound and above is ultrasound.

Human Ear Mechanism — Homi Bhabha Exam Physics MCQs with Solutions

Questions with solutions