/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 1 Why do your ears "pop" when you ... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 15: Problem 1

Why do your ears "pop" when you drive up a mountain?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Your ears 'pop' when you drive up a mountain because the Eustachian tube in your ear equalizes the pressure in your ear with the decreasing air pressure outside. This equalization of pressure results in a 'pop' sound.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Ear's Anatomy

The human ear has several parts, but for this question, we focus on the eardrum and the Eustachian tube. The eardrum is a thin piece of skin that vibrates when sound waves hit it, and the Eustachian tube is a tiny passageway that links the middle ear to the back of the throat.
02

Understanding Air Pressure

Air pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air particles. It is highest at sea level and decreases as we go higher. Consequently, the air pressure inside the car is higher than outside as we ascend the mountain.
03

Linking Air Pressure to the 'Pop' Sound

As we ascend the mountain, the air pressure inside our ears (the middle ear) remains high because it reflects the pressure at the starting point (usually sea level). However, the external air pressure (in the outer ear) decreases with the altitude. This difference in pressure causes the eardrum to bulge outward slightly, causing discomfort. The Eustachian tubes try to equalize this pressure by allowing some air to escape from the middle ear. When that happens, we hear a 'pop' sound.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Hydraulic brake systems are increasingly common on bicycles, especially those using disc brakes. The Magura MT4 brake system, widely used on mountain bikes, has a small piston and cylinder of diameter \(1.04 \mathrm{~cm}\) connected to the brake actuation lever on the handlebars, and a larger \(2.10-\mathrm{cm}\)-diameter piston/cylinder that pushes the brake pads against the rotating brake disc. (a) What force must be applied to the smaller piston to produce a force of \(3.25 \mathrm{kN}\) on the larger piston? (b) If the smaller piston moves a maximum of \(8.80 \mathrm{~mm}\), what's the corresponding motion of the larger piston? (c) How much work is done on each piston as they undergo the motions of part (b)?

The Michelson-Morley experiment (see Chapter 33) was a very precise optical experiment that helped pave the way for Einstein's theory of relativity. To isolate it from external vibrations, the entire experiment was mounted on a square slab of sandstone \(0.30 \mathrm{~m}\) thick and \(1.5 \mathrm{~m}\) on a side, with a mass of \(1.7\) tonnes ( \(1700 \mathrm{~kg}\) ). The slab, in turn, floated in a trough of liquid mercury (density \(13.69\) tonnes \(/ \mathrm{m}^{3}\) ). What percentage of the slab's volume was below the surface of the mercury?

At a hearing on a proposed wind farm, a wind-energy advocate says an installation of 900 turbines, with blade diameter \(110 \mathrm{~m}\), could displace a 1-GW nuclear power plant. You're asked if that's really possible. How do you answer, given an average wind speed of \(10 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) and a turbine power output that averages \(30 \%\) of the theoretical maximum?

How does the blood flow speed at a stenosis compare with the speed in the surrounding artery? a. lower b. the same c. higher

A \(1.3\)-cm-diameter venturi flowmeter is inserted in a \(2.3-\mathrm{cm}\) diameter pipe carrying water (density \(1000 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\) ). Find (a) the flow speed in the pipe and (b) the volume flow rate if the pressure difference between venturi and unconstricted pipe is \(15 \mathrm{kPa}\).
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation

Medical Physics

Read Explanation

Dynamics

Read Explanation

Rotational Dynamics

Read Explanation

Radiation

Read Explanation

Electromagnetism

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.