ABSTRACT
Middle Ear Sound reaches the ear by way of the air, a gas. On the other hand, the organ of Corti is contained within the cochlear fluids, which are physically comparable to seawater. The difference between these media is of considerable import to hearing, as the following example will show. Suppose you and a friend are standing in water at the beach. He is speaking, and in the middle of his sentence you dunk your head under the water. However loud and clear your friend’s voice was a moment ago, it will be barely, if at all, audible while your head is submerged. Why?
