The term “acoustics” means ________________.
A. A measurement of how loud a sound is
B. The scientific study of sound waves
C. The way sound travels in outer space
D. How the brain processes sound
The correct answer is B: The scientific study of sound waves.
Source: Acoustical Society of America
What is “sonoluminescence?” [pronounced SO-no-loo-min-ESS-ents]
A. A Chicago hip-hop band
B. A lighting technique used in theatre
C. A way to turn sound energy into light
D. A new way to cook food when you don’t have access to a gas or electric stove
The correct answer is C: A way to turn sound energy into light.
From the American Physical Society: “Sonoluminescence is a way to turn sound energy into light. When intense sound waves are created in a flask of water, a tiny air bubble in the water can give off flashes of light.”
Source: American Physical Society
Which of these sets of Spanish words has to do with loud sounds?
A. Rápido, ágil, pronto
B. Tranquilo, silencioso, susurrar
C. Ruido, gritar, estruendoso
D. Lento, despacio, pausado
The correct answer is C: Ruido, gritar, estruendoso, which mean (in order) noise, to shout, and deafening or thunderous.
Check out our Noisy Planet materials in Spanish.
The intensity or loudness of sound is measured in units called __________.
A. Pounds
B. Ounces
C. Decibels
D. Phonemes
The correct answer is C: Decibels.
A whisper is 30 decibels and a normal conversation is 60 decibels. An increase of 10 decibels means that a sound is 10 times more powerful. To your ears, it will sound twice as loud.
Sounds that reach 120 decibels—the level of an ambulance siren—are painful to our ears at close distances. You risk permanent hearing loss if you are regularly around noise at 110 decibels for more than 1 minute.
Learn more about sound levels with our sound advice scale.
The word tinnitus means _________.
A. That you have a tin ear (can’t distinguish different sounds very well)
B. A ringing, roaring, or buzzing sound in your ear
C. The sound of ringing bells
D. That you can hear sounds, but have trouble figuring out what they mean
The correct answer is B: A ringing, roaring, or buzzing sound in your ear.
Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NY-tus or TIN-u-tus) is a symptom that something is wrong in your auditory system, which includes your ears, the auditory nerve that connects your inner ear to your brain, and the parts of your brain that process sound.
Tinnitus has many possible causes, including being exposed to loud noises, illness, medications, and even ear wax blocking the ear canal.
Source: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
What does the abbreviation NIHL stand for?
A. Never in her life
B. Not in his language
C. Noisy itchy hearing loss
D. Noise-induced hearing loss
The correct answer is D: Noise-induced hearing loss, which happens when too much noise causes damage to the sensory hair cells in your inner ear.
Use our sound advice scale to learn more about safe and unsafe sounds and read more about noise-induced hearing loss on our website.
Sensitive structures inside your ear called _______ cells are small sensory cells that convert sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, these cells cannot grow back.
A. Square
B. Hair
C. Bare
D. Hearing
The correct answer is B: Hair cells.
Learn more about about how we hear on our website.
Learn how sounds make their way from the source to your brain.
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