PSYCO104 Lecture Notes - Arnold Tongue, Basilar Membrane, Outer Ear

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCO104
• Professor: Blaine Mullins

Document Summary

Sound is just the motion of molecules transmitted via compressed airwaves: sound, sound waves are pressure changes in a medium, physical properties: amplitude, frequency (hz), complexity, perceptual properties: loudness, pitch, timbre. The higher the frequency the higher the pitch. How we perceive different instruments playing the same not ie c note on guitar vs piano. Ave human can hear 20-20 000hz muscles vibrate at 25hz- can hear muscles work: the ear a)outer ear, we can hear a range from 20 to 20,000. Hz. a)middle ear (3 bones) a)inner ear (3 scalae, 2 windows, & an organ: density mismatch problem. Lose a lot of energy because cochlea filled with fluid. Difference in sa and lever principle overcomes this. Sa 17:1 ratio focuses energy on a single point- boosting hearing/amplifies 17 x. Lever principle:the hammer anvil and stirrup swing and x1. 3 amplifies (=22 x) (they are also the 3 smallest bones in the human body)