How We Hear
What do we use to hear sound?
Our ears
What is the part of the ear we can see called?
Pinna
What are vibrations that move through the air (or water, or solid things).
Sound waves
These tiny “hairs” inside your cochlea dance when they hear sound — but don’t try to brush them!
hair cells
A whisper in the library is this kind of sound, because it barely makes the air move.
Quiet
What is the first step in the system of how we hear?
What is the small flap inside that shakes when sound hits it?
The eardrum
When sound gets louder, what happens to the vibrations?
They get bigger or stronger
This sticky stuff in your ears isn’t candy or butter — it’s actually there to keep your ears clean!
Earwax
What is louder - a vacuum cleaner or someone talking?
What part of the ear catches sound first?
The outer ear (pinna)
Name one of the three tiny bones in the middle ear.
malleus (hammer
incus (anvil)
stapes (stirrup)
This part of your body understands the sound signals sent from your ears
This special “phone line” carries sound messages from your ear all the way to your brain — no cell service needed!
What is the auditory nerve?
A lion’s roar at the zoo can be heard far away. This makes it this kind of sound.
loud
What happens when sound waves move through the air?
They make our eardrum vibrate
What is the snail-shaped part deep inside our ear called?
The cochlea
What is the order: sound → ear → _____ → brain?
This wiggly liquid inside your inner ear moves when you do — it helps you keep your balance so you don’t fall over!
inner ear fluid
A fire truck siren zooming by makes a sound that spreads far and shakes the windows. This sound is...
loud
What turns sound vibrations into signals the brain can understand?
The inner ear or cochlea
What carries sound signals from the ear to the brain?
The auditory nerve
What do we call the full trip sound takes from the ear to the brain?
The hearing pathway
This sneaky tube helps your ears pop when you go up a mountain or ride an airplane — no popcorn needed!
Eustachian tube
Clapping your hands in a big empty gym is louder than clapping in a small room. Why?
Because the sound bounces and spreads in the big gym.