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10 (a) The human ear can only detect frequencies below ultrasound and above infrasound - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2022 - Paper 1
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10 (a) The human ear can only detect frequencies below ultrasound and above infrasound. (i) Which of these gives the approximate range of frequencies for the human ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:10 (a) The human ear can only detect frequencies below ultrasound and above infrasound - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 10 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of these gives the approximate range of frequencies for the human ear?
Step 2
Suggest two reasons why there are limits to the frequencies that a human ear can detect.
Answer
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The structure of the ear, particularly the cochlea, limits the ranges of frequencies it can transduce into neural impulses.
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The sensitivity of hair cells in the cochlea varies with frequency, making some frequencies harder to perceive.
Step 3
Explain how the signals in Figure 13a and 13b show that there is a crack in the metal bar in Figure 13b.
Answer
In Figure 13a, the signals received are consistent and have a clear, continuous waveform, indicating that the sound waves travel without interruption through the metal bar. In Figure 13b, the signals show a difference in the waveform; there is a disruption in the echo pattern, which indicates that the ultrasonic waves are not traveling uniformly due to the presence of a crack, resulting in scattered signals.
Step 4
Suggest one reason why the amplitude of signal R in Figure 13b is smaller than the amplitude of signal P shown in Figure 13a.
Answer
The amplitude of signal R is smaller because part of the ultrasonic wave energy is lost at the crack; energy is reflected and scattered at the crack, resulting in a weaker signal as compared to the uninterrupted signal P in Figure 13a.
Step 5
Explain what the diagram in Figure 15 shows about the density of the Earth and the nature of the Earth's core.
Answer
Figure 15 indicates that the P waves can travel through the Earth, including the core, indicating it is solid and dense. In contrast, S waves do not travel through the outer core, showing that this part is liquid, contributing to the overall density differences observed in different regions (A, B, and C). Additionally, the presence of no waves detected in certain areas implies variations in density and the materials present in the Earth's layers.