Question

Discuss the parts of the ear that gives us the ability to discriminate different pitches of sound.

Answer 1

Ear:

1. The ear is a hearing and balancing organ.
2. The basilar membrane is the inner ear's main mechanical component.
3. Over its length, it has graded mass and stiffness qualities, and its vibration patterns separate incoming sound into component frequencies that trigger different cochlear areas.
4. The basilar membrane allows humans to distinguish between different pitches of sound.
5. This is due to the fact that distinct parts of the basilar membrane vibrate best at different frequencies of sound, allowing the brain to infer pitch.