What is the main function of the ear in relation to sound?

The primary function of the ear concerning sound is to transform the energy carried by sound waves into nerve impulses that the brain can interpret. This process begins when sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted through the middle ear bones (ossicles) to the inner ear, where the cochlea converts them into fluid waves. The movement of fluid in the cochlea stimulates hair cells, which then generate nerve impulses that are sent to the auditory cortex in the brain. The brain decodes these impulses as recognizable sounds, allowing us to perceive and interpret auditory information.

Other options, while they refer to different aspects of hearing and sound processing, do not accurately describe the main function of the ear. The ear does not change nerve impulses back into sound waves, block all unsafe noise levels (as most ears are not equipped to filter out all dangerous sounds continuously), nor is it universally damaged by any sound—rather, the ear can tolerate a range of sound levels before damage occurs. Understanding this fundamental mechanism of how sound is processed reinforces the importance of protecting our hearing from harmful noise levels.