The highest frequency of sound that a person can hear changes with age.
The Table shows typical values.
Table
| Age in years | Highest frequency heard in Hz\text{Hz}Hz |
|---|---|
| 10 | 20 00020\,00020000 |
| 30 | 16 00016\,00016000 |
| 50 | 12 00012\,00012000 |
| 70 | 8 0008\,0008000 |
Describe the pattern shown by the data in the Table.
Predict the highest frequency that a typical 40-year-old person can hear.
A shop owner plays a sound with a frequency of 17 500 Hz17\,500\ \text{Hz}17500 Hz outside the shop to stop groups of teenagers waiting there.
Explain why most adults are not affected by the sound. Use data from the Table in your answer.
Explain why the human ear can only detect sounds over a limited range of frequencies.
112 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 4.3 Sound, ultrasound and infrasound, covering 4.3.1 Sound waves, vibrations and the human ear, 4.3.2 Ultrasound and infrasound, 4.3.3 Uses of ultrasound and infrasound, and 4.3.4 Sound waves passing between media. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.