Question

exam lesson name: light and sound
exam number: 700699rr
exam guidelines
exam instructions
question 9 of 20 :
select the best answer for the question.

1. which of the following has to happen before the eardrum begins to vibrate with the same frequency as the source of the sound waves?

a. vibrations have to be transmitted to the fibers of the auditory nerve.
b. the outer ear has to collect the sound waves and lead them to the middle ear.
c. impulses have to be sent to the brain through the auditory nerve.
d. the brain has to interpret the direction from which the sounds are being delivered.
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Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze the process of hearing:

• Option A: Transmission to auditory nerve fibers occurs after eardrum vibration, so it's not before.
• Option B: The outer ear collects sound waves and directs them to the middle ear (where the eardrum is), so this must happen before the eardrum vibrates at the sound's frequency.
• Option C: Sending impulses to the brain is a later step after eardrum vibration and signal processing in the ear.
• Option D: Brain interpreting sound direction is a higher - level processing step that happens after the initial sound reception and eardrum vibration.

Answer:

B. The outer ear has to collect the sound waves and lead them to the middle ear.