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The two are different because Sound waves are longitudinal mechanical waves, but light waves are transverse electromagnetic waves, and sound requires a medium through which to travel, but light doesn't.
Basically, Sound waves move sort of differently than Light waves.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe ear picks up sound waves instead of light as you can hear sound but you cannot hear light.
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That sort of repeats the question as a statement. The ear is not sensitive to light because it has no optical components and no photo-electric nerve endings. It doesn't need then because light's not its business.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoYes, our ear can detects sound waves because it is a natural sound detector.
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How does the cochlea in the ear work?
The cochlea of the inner ear contains a membranous tube called the cochlear duct. This duct is filled with fluid that vibrates when the sound waves from the stirrup (stapes) bone strike against it. In the cochlear duct are delicate cells which make up the organ of Corti. These hair-like cells pick up the vibrations caused by sound waves against the fluid, then they transmit them through the auditory nerve to the hearing center of the brain.
What external ear structure catches sound waves?
'Vibration' isn't captured by the outer ear. It is a sound that is captured through 'bone conduction'. Many hard of hearing or 'deaf' people pick up vibration through their skeletal structure. The Inner ear (the cochlear) is primarilarly bone, where the hair cells live which, by an electrical conversion process, tells the brain, that it has 'heard' a sound. In 'normal' or 'average hearing people', sound is captured by the outer ear in the 'concha',(the shell like part of the ear) and fed into the ear canal towards the eardrum and then into the inner ear. Blockages such as wax can inhibit the transmission of sound through the 'normal' hearing process but usually age contributes to hearing loss in the same way that joints, sight etc deteriorate through advanced ageing. This is due to a 'wearing away' of the hair cells of the inner ear.
What is the purpose of an ear?
The primary function of the ears is to allow us to hear sounds. In order to hear a sound, the ears are equipped with small parts known as the "drum". What happens is when a sound finds its way into our ears, the drumb and other hairs pick up vibrations (or soundwaves), which produce a sound registration in our brains.
How do sounds reach the inner ear?
The three bones of the middle ear, commonly referred to as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup (technical: Malleus, Incus, and Stapes) transmit the sound through a part of the ear known as the oval window. The membrane around the oval window constitutes the boundary between the middle and inner ear. The sound (which is literally a wave, or vibration) then travels into the cochlea, which is the snail shell-like region of the inner ear. Due to the varying diameter of this structure (it is essentially a rolled up cone), the sound travels until it locates its fundamental frequency. The fundamental frequency is the point at which the original sound waves and the sound waves bouncing from the cochlea's surface are at the precise distance apart that complete constructive interference occurs. basically, the two waves line up one cycle apart, making the sound louder. (Destructive Interference is when the two cancel or nearly cancel each other out.) The best way to explain this phenomenon is at a concert or baseball game: If you are at one point, you can hardly hear the speaker or the sounds overlap, while in another very nearby location the sounds overlap and get louder. Try it next time you're at an event with big speakers. Back to the ear. The point at which this interference occurs moves the hairs inside the cochlea. Tiny mechanoreceptors (receptors that feel motion) receive this signal, find the general point all around the circumference of the cochlea that the sound is causing the hairs to move, and then transmits the signal down the auditory nerve to the brain. Know one is exactly sure of how this part works, as nerve signals are still largely not understood. More research can be completed on this part of the process, however.
A substance an oak tree needs to take from the soil?
Water. Carbon Dioxide. Light. Nitrogen. Phosphorus. Potassium. Iron. Take your pick.
What sre sound waves?
Sound waves are longitudinal vibrations through matter that ears can pick up as sound.
What are types of energy that travel in waves?
Take your pick: water waves, sound waves, electromagnetic waves, gravitational waves.
What are two types of energy that travel in waves?
Take your pick: water waves, sound waves, electromagnetic waves, gravitational waves.
What is the first part of the ear to pick up sound waves?
pinna
How does the output speakers and headphones work?
sound travels from the computer to the speakers where sound waves pick up and the sound gets played
Are there animals that pick up sound waves different than human?
yep! plenty
Why can't you hear clearly underwater?
Sound waves accessible by humans are attenuated in water.
How do telescopes pick up electro- magnetic waves in space?
-- They pick up light waves the same way telescopes, cameras, and your eyes do here on Earth. -- They pick up radio waves from the control center by means of antennas mounted under the optical assembly.
What are the devices which converts sound signal into electrical signal other than microphone?
One is the hydrophone, used to pick up sound waves underwater.
Examples of the application of interfrence of sound waves?
Since the two waves 180 degrees out of phase cancel each other you can use interference for noise dampening. Pick up the sound and generate a signal that cancels it.
Can cats hear you down the street?
The answer to this question is completely and utterly dependent upon the street at which you are located. For example, if you are located on Broadway street, then the cat's ears will not be able to pick up the sound waves due to the fact that there is a humongous amount of people as well as lights, although you may think that the lights may not be able to affect the sound waves. however, it has been proven by scientists in Sweden as well as Norway that the light waves interject with the sound waves causing a humongous mini implosion. This implosion has the innate ability to absolutely destroy the sound waves. Hence, as to why the cat will not be able to hear you down the street.
What makes it possible for your ear to hear?
your ears pick up vibrations called sound waves in the air and we inperpret these as 'sounds'
