Final answer:
Hearing is the ability to sense sound waves, while equilibrium refers to the sense of balance. Hearing involves the detection and interpretation of sound waves by the ears and the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. Equilibrium involves the detection of head position, movement, and motion through hair cells in the inner ear, which then send neural signals to the brain to maintain balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hearing is the ability to sense sound waves, while equilibrium refers to the sense of balance. Hearing involves the detection and interpretation of sound waves by the ears, which then sends nerve impulses to the brain. Equilibrium, on the other hand, involves the detection of head position, head movement, and motion through hair cells located within the inner ear. These hair cells send neural signals to the brain to maintain balance. So, while hearing is related to the sense of sound, equilibrium is related to the sense of balance.