Discover
/
Article

How we hear

DEC 01, 1949
Chipping away at the barrier between the senses and the physical world are those scientists whose research is in psychophysics. Here the author traces what happens to a sound wave in the ear until it reaches the auditory nerve endings.
Francis M. Wiener

Ever since Einstein took his observers along on moving coordinate axes and left some behind to tell the tale of what happened within the stationary frame of reference, physics has changed in more than one respect. Physical science in general has begun to include research on these persistent observers and performers of experiments themselves. The workings of the human mechanism are currently under intense study by mathematicians and physicists, as well as by researchers in the life sciences.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the authors

Francis M. Wiener, Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Related content
/
Article
The ability to communicate a key message clearly and concisely to a nonspecialized audience is a critical skill to develop at all educational levels.
/
Article
With strong magnetic fields and intense lasers or pulsed electric currents, physicists can reconstruct the conditions inside astrophysical objects and create nuclear-fusion reactors.
/
Article
A crude device for quantification shows how diverse aspects of distantly related organisms reflect the interplay of the same underlying physical factors.
/
Article
Events held around the world have recognized the past, present, and future of quantum science and technology.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1949_12.jpeg

Volume 2, Number 12

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.