Noah Pflanz
Physics 11
Block A 2022
How People of Different Ages Hear Different Frequencies of Sound?
Topic:
Ability to hear different frequencies of sounds at different ages, does it differ?
Question:
What is the relationship between age and the ability to hear certain frequencies at different volumes?
Purpose:
To show that as people age their ability to hear different frequencies of sounds will decrease.
Hearing loss happens when parts of the inner ear become damaged. This can happen for many reasons such
as exposure to noise, illness or injury. The most common reason for hearing loss is the death of small hair
cells in the inner ear that help us to hear sound. The death of these cells happens more quickly the older we
get and accelerates after the age of 40 (Jorgen). Older people have more trouble hearing higher frequencies
with age than they do with hearing lower frequencies.
If we test the ability of people at different ages to hear different frequencies, by having them listen to
different frequencies at different volumes on an app, we will find that the ability to hear higher frequencies
at the same volume level decreases with age with the biggest change after age 40, because tiny hair cells in
our ears which help us hear get damaged over time and do not regrow. (Jorgen)
(Photo) Jørgen Dal -Lecturer Vocal Technique and Acoustics at Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus (2000present)
Materials Required:
PHYPHOX App with the ability to produce sounds at different frequencies and volumes.
Record sheet
Description of Procedure:
1. Have subject hold phone 3” from right ear
2. Play sound at volume 0 at 500 hz
3. Turn volume up one level at a time until subject can first hear sound – record level 1-18
4. Repeat for frequencies 1000hz, 2000hz, and 4000hz
Results:
What ages can hear certain frequencies at volumes between 1 – 16 on iphone when held 3” from
right ear
Age
500 hz
1000 hz
2000 hz
4000 hz
16
1
1
1
1
20
1
1
2
2
52
1
1
3
6
63
9
11
2
2
85
16
16
18
Not at all
Graph:
Safety Concern:
Hearing can be damaged at high volumes but not at volumes we are using in this experiment
Conclusion/discussion:
1. Generally people need higher volume to hear sound as frequency increases
2. The oldest person could not hear the highest frequency at all
3. The youngest person could hear all frequencies at the lowest volume
2. Interestingly two people over the age of 50 found they could hear sounds at 2000hz
Easier than they could hear sounds at 20000 hz
3. Many things could interfere with these results, such as background noise, people’s health, phones not
producing correct frequencies
4. The sample size of this experiment was very small and not representative of the population
4. Question: would males and females show similar results on a larger scale
5. Question: would results differ if we used different ears
Scoring Rubric:
M4.
Before and After Lab
Included, labeled and organized all parts of the lab report.
Data section includes a well-documented record of the results of several
trials using mass values and velocity vector diagrams (or some comparably
effective representation). The mass and the relative before- and aftercollision velocities should be depicted. At least four inelastic and at least two
elastic collisions are represented.
Conclusion/Discussion suggests some principles capable of predicting the
results of a collision. Specific evidence from the Data section is used to
support the conclusions. Conclusion is detailed enough to be used in the
analysis of a collision; sample numbers might have been used to provide the
necessary details.
Score
_____/_____