Firework Hearing Loss

Team: 23

School: CEPi1

Area of Science: Medical AND Physics/Chem

Interim: Angela Caudle and Arlene Pino

Problem Definition

Pyrotechnics is defined in the military as ammunition containing chemicals for producing smoke or light, as for signaling, illuminating, or screening. As we all know, fireworks also produce a loud noise that may hurt some of our ears. Our simulation's goal is to measure the intensity of a firework blast and take that data and use it in comparison to hearing damage. We would like to find how many firecrackers it takes to cause serious lasting damage due to firework over-exposure.

Our goal in this project is to demonstrate the effects a firecracker can have on a person’s hearing at different distances. We hope that people will take this information and use it to their advantage. We also hope that they realize the dangers of being too close to a loud object.

Plan for Solving the Problem

We are editing a Net Logo model that has been programmed to measure the amplitudes of sound waves being emitted from a plane as it passes by a “listener”. We are also using a set of high tech microphones, which are made specifically to measure the amount of decibels given off by an object, in a real life simulation. We plan to use this data in our model; if possible.

Progress

We are almost finished with editing Net Logo program that will simulate our data. In the program there is a “fir” which is our version of a firecracker whose speed can be controlled by a slider bar. As the “fir” passes the “listener” it records the decibel rating. It continues to do this at various distances. The data is recorded to a graph on the bottom of the window. We are currently having trouble with the calculations but are looking into ways to fix it.

We’re currently in the process of learning how to use the software that came with our microphones. We hope to have our simulation done before winter break (the 18th).

Expected Results:

We expect that our model will come out with a graph that shows that the farther a person gets from a firecracker the lower the decibel rating, and, in turn, cause less damage to the person’s hearing.

As the “fir” passes by the “listener” the graph will show an increase in decibels. However, as the distance between them increases, the rating will drop. We hope to find that this will, in turn, mean that the person will experience dramatic hearing loss when close, and less and less as it is pulled back from the “listener”.

Sources:

Team Members:

  Angela Caudle
  arlene pino

Sponsoring Teacher: Jerry Esquivel

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