AboutDan Fink Expertise Though my experience is mostly in the fields of electricity, magnetism, and physics, I have a broad science background. My career is in the field of alternative power sources -- solar, wind, water and battery power. But any questions about electricity, magnetism, energy conservation, power generation, electric motors, and even general physics are very welcome--especially from kids. They ask the best questions of all! I pride myself in answering science questions accurately, with ideas for SAFE, easy experiments that kids can perform by themselves--and that let them prove the answers to their own satisfaction. I think science should be fun, and available to everyone, regardless of age.
Experience I have volunteered in our local public schools for 5 years. I currently make presentations at our schools about electricity and magnetism, with a focus on solar, wind, water and other alternative power sources. I try to demonstrate at our schools how easy it is to make electricity, with simple devices using spinning magnets and coils of wire--powered by wind, water, bicycles, gerbils...etc. And of course solar panels! I am the webmaster of Otherpower.com, an alternative energy website. I have lived 10 miles from the nearest power pole for 11 years--I make all my own electricity from scratch with sun, wind and water.
Question Does the human ear hear all frequencies in the audible range with teh same sensitivity? Is it easier to hear higher or lower frequencies?
Answer Hi Erin --no, and it also varies with age and hearing damage. A healthy young adult can usually hear in the frequencies of around 15-20,000 hz. Their ears will still be less sensitive to the highest frequencies, though. By middle age, most adults can't hear above 15,000 hz, though this varies with different people (by heredity, too). Hearing damage usually affects the highest frequencies first, too.
The graph of what frequencies you can hear at what sensitivity is called an 'audiogram,' it is administered by a doctor called an audiologist. The link below shows some audiograms with explanations, inlcuding the sensitivity of a person with normal hearing, and a person with hearing loss.
