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Hearing Definition

Hearing is using our ears to listen to sound. For example, hearing music.

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Introduction to Sound

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • Vibrations are what let us hear each other speak.
  • When air is blown through a clarinet or saxophone, the reed produces vibrations you can hear.
  • We hear sound with our sense of hearing, which is made possible by our ears.

Why Do We Need To Know About Hearing

Learning about how we hear is important for jobs in teaching, giving advice, and talking with others. Knowing that vibrations from sounds let us hear what someone is saying is important in these jobs.

This knowledge is also key in music, making and fixing audio equipment, and in science projects that use sound. For example, when you know that thicker strings on a guitar vibrate slower and make a different sound, you see how hearing affects making music.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t we always see vibrations that sounds make?
They can happen really fast, sometimes thousands of times each second.
If we can’t see vibrations, how do we know they are happening?
We can make vibrations visible in many ways such as using a tuning fork and putting it in water. You can also feel your own throat while humming or putting paint inside a speaker. You can also film things vibrating with a special slow motion camera.
Why do we feel vibrations when we hum?
When your vocal cords vibrate, they make sound. Anytime you speak, your vocal cords are vibrating. The shape of your tongue and mouth also help you make different sounds.
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