OCR · GCSE · Physics
Course version: J249 · Version from Sept 2018
Explain why such processes only work over a limited frequency range, and…
Full specification wording
Wave behaviour: explain why such processes only work over a limited frequency range, and the relevance of this to human hearing (to include: why hearing (audition) changes due to ageing) (content found only in the physics separate science qualification) (Higher tier only)
Many wave processes respond well only within a band of frequencies.
Checked against the OCR J249 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 10 of 12
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Many wave processes respond well only within a band of frequencies. A detector, a vibrating structure or a medium has a natural frequency or resonant range, and it responds strongly near that range but weakly far from it; a microphone, a loudspeaker cone or the basilar membrane inside the cochlea each behaves this way. Human hearing therefore works over a limited range, roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz in a young adult, with greatest sensitivity in the mid-frequencies. Ageing stiffens and damages hair cells and the cochlea, so the upper limit falls, high frequencies are lost first, and the audible range narrows. This content appears only in the separate physics qualification and is Higher tier only.
What earns the marks
- States that a system responds strongly only over a limited band of frequencies because of its natural frequency or resonant range.
- Explains that human hearing covers a limited frequency range, approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz in a young adult.
- Links ageing to stiffening or damage of hair cells and the cochlea, reducing sensitivity to high frequencies.
- Identifies that the upper frequency limit of hearing falls with age, so the audible range narrows.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claims that human hearing extends across all frequencies equally.
Put it right by stating the limited audible range of roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Attributes hearing loss with age to the eardrum only.
Put it right by naming hair cell and cochlear damage as the main cause.
Assumes ageing lowers the whole range uniformly.
Put it right by noting that high frequencies are lost first.
Exam tips
- Name the natural frequency or resonant range when explaining why a process works only over a limited band.
- Quote the approximate audible range in hertz and state that it narrows with age.
- Link ageing explicitly to hair cell or cochlear damage and to loss of high-frequency hearing.
Try the lesson
The start of the Wave behaviour: explain why such processes only work over a limited frequency range, and the relevance of this to human hearing (to include: why hearing (audition) changes due to ageing) (content found only in the physics separate science qualification) (Higher tier only) lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A microphone converts sound into an electrical signal. Why does it respond well to some frequencies but hardly at all to very high ones?
Listen
Many wave processes respond well only within a band of frequencies. A detector, a vibrating structure or a medium has a natural frequency or resonant range, and it responds strongly near that range but weakly far from it; a microphone, a loudspeaker cone or the basilar membrane inside the cochlea each behaves this way. Human hearing therefore works over a limited range, roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz in a young adult, with greatest sensitivity in the mid-frequencies. Ageing stiffens and damages hair cells and the cochlea, so the upper limit falls, high frequencies are lost first, and the audible range narrows. This content appears only in the separate physics qualification and is Higher tier only. A strong answer earns marks for these points. States that a system responds strongly only over a limited band of frequencies because of its natural frequency or resonant range. Explains that human hearing covers a limited frequency range, approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz in a young adult. Links ageing to stiffening or damage of hair cells and the cochlea, reducing sensitivity to high frequencies. Identifies that the upper frequency limit of hearing falls with age, so the audible range narrows. A common slip: Claims that human hearing extends across all frequencies equally. Instead, stating the limited audible range of roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Exam tip: Name the natural frequency or resonant range when explaining why a process works only over a limited band.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
natural frequency or resonant range
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
audible range
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
ageing
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
basilar membrane
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- natural frequency or resonant range
- A detector, a vibrating structure or a medium responds strongly near this range but weakly far from it.
- audible range
- Human hearing works over a limited range, roughly 20 Hz to 20 kHz in a young adult, with greatest sensitivity in the mid-frequencies.
- ageing
- It stiffens and damages hair cells and the cochlea, so the upper limit falls, high frequencies are lost first, and the audible range narrows.
- basilar membrane
- A structure inside the cochlea that responds strongly near its resonant range but weakly far from it.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Wave behaviour: explain why such processes only work over a limited frequency range, and the relevance of this to human hearing (to include: why hearing (audition) changes due to ageing) (content found only in the physics separate science qualification) (Higher tier only)
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge