The effect of different earbud tips on the pressure of sound transmitted
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Physics
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
3rd Place
Abstract
It has been observed in multiple experiments that teenagers use earbuds to listen to amplified music, these actions can lead to symptoms caused by possible hearing loss. The purpose of this experiment was to determine which earbud shape transmits higher levels of pressure in order to better understand which earbud shape is more detrimental to a person's health. It was hypothesized that if the shape of the earbud was narrower and shorter, like the single flange ear bud, then the pressure of the sound transmitted would a higher dB. In order to test this hypothesis, the experiment consisted of playing a choice of three different songs through an earbud at different distances (0 cm, ¼ cm, or ½ cm) away from a sound pressure level meter (SPL) and recording the highest decibel levels observed. The earbud had one of the two earbud tips (single flange and bi flange) attached in each trial. The results of this experiment showed that the bi flange earbud transmitted higher level decibels that were more statistically significant (p= 0.003< α= 0.01) than the single flange earbud tip (p= 0.130 > α=0.01). Moving the earbud different distances from the sound pressure level meter (SPL) had a large effect on the sound pressure transmitted, however, the song selections did not have a large impact on the result. Both earbuds played at maximum volume produced levels at and above 90 dB at 0cm away and at ¼ cm. If a person were using the earbuds, with either of the flanges (single flange or bi flange), at maximum volume, they could possibly experience symptoms of hearing loss.
Recommended Citation
Hughley, Jasmine, "The effect of different earbud tips on the pressure of sound transmitted" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 184.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/184
Location
Neville 306
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The effect of different earbud tips on the pressure of sound transmitted
Neville 306
It has been observed in multiple experiments that teenagers use earbuds to listen to amplified music, these actions can lead to symptoms caused by possible hearing loss. The purpose of this experiment was to determine which earbud shape transmits higher levels of pressure in order to better understand which earbud shape is more detrimental to a person's health. It was hypothesized that if the shape of the earbud was narrower and shorter, like the single flange ear bud, then the pressure of the sound transmitted would a higher dB. In order to test this hypothesis, the experiment consisted of playing a choice of three different songs through an earbud at different distances (0 cm, ¼ cm, or ½ cm) away from a sound pressure level meter (SPL) and recording the highest decibel levels observed. The earbud had one of the two earbud tips (single flange and bi flange) attached in each trial. The results of this experiment showed that the bi flange earbud transmitted higher level decibels that were more statistically significant (p= 0.003< α= 0.01) than the single flange earbud tip (p= 0.130 > α=0.01). Moving the earbud different distances from the sound pressure level meter (SPL) had a large effect on the sound pressure transmitted, however, the song selections did not have a large impact on the result. Both earbuds played at maximum volume produced levels at and above 90 dB at 0cm away and at ¼ cm. If a person were using the earbuds, with either of the flanges (single flange or bi flange), at maximum volume, they could possibly experience symptoms of hearing loss.
