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Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes how sound waves are perceived by the human body?
A
Sound waves are light waves detected by the visual system.
B
Sound waves are electrical impulses generated by the nervous system.
C
Sound waves are vibrations in the air processed by the auditory system.
D
Sound waves are chemical signals transmitted through the bloodstream.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the nature of sound waves. Sound waves are mechanical waves that travel through a medium (such as air) as vibrations. These vibrations create areas of compression and rarefaction in the medium.
Step 2: Recognize the role of the auditory system in humans. The auditory system is specifically designed to detect and process sound waves. It includes structures like the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and the auditory nerve.
Step 3: Learn how sound waves are detected. The outer ear collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the ossicles (tiny bones in the middle ear) to the cochlea in the inner ear.
Step 4: Understand how vibrations are converted into electrical signals. Inside the cochlea, hair cells detect the vibrations and convert them into electrical impulses. These impulses are transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve.
Step 5: Eliminate incorrect options. Sound waves are not light waves, electrical impulses generated by the nervous system, or chemical signals. The correct description is that sound waves are vibrations in the air processed by the auditory system.