Final answer:
Option C). The volume of a sound is detected by the greater movement of the basilar membrane, resulting in more intense stimulation of the hair cells. Increased stimulation leads to stronger or more frequent electrical signals, perceived as louder sound. The arrangement of hair cells and their varied response to frequencies enables the auditory system to differentiate pitch and volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
Greater movement of the basilar membrane causes the hair cells to deflect more, which is how one perceives loudness or volume of sound (C). More hair cells are stimulated at a specific location when sound intensity (volume) rises. This stimulation can result in stronger or more frequent electrical signals being sent from the cochlear nerve to the brain, which indicates a louder sound. The way that the hair cells are positioned on the basilar membrane changes in response to various sound frequencies. When the sound intensity increases, it flexes more significantly, which enables the hair cells' stereocilia to bend and produces action potentials as a result.
Mechanism of Hearing:
The cochlear fluids in the ear move in response to sound waves, stimulating the basilar membrane hairs. These hair cells are auditory receptor cells, and they produce electrical signals in response to particular frequencies. The pitch of the sound is indicated by the pattern of activation of these cells. The quantity and degree of hair cells that are activated determine the sound's intensity or volume. Together, the human brain and ear decode these signals to give us the ability to hear and distinguish between different tones.