2006-09-20 00:28:59 · 14 answers · asked by Team BES 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
smell is the effect generated by certain molecules on our nostrils
2006-09-20 00:30:30 · answer #1 · answered by Walter W. Krijthe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sound is purely a wave because the air molecules that reach your ear aren't the ones that were originally moved by the thing making the noise - they were pushed by the ones that were pushed by the ones that ... etc.
Light is, in those terms, particulate - the thing you see emits or reflects a photon and it's that photon which enters your eye (insofar as a photon can be said to have a consistent nature, which at the quantum level isn't really a concept that can be applied). The wave behaviour of light is really that the particle itself is a compact wave in the electromagnetic "medium", but it's not necessarily useful to think of that in this context.
In that sense, smell is more like light - it is the same physical molecules which were emitted by the smelly thing and which enter your nose. Taste is the same, except the molecules are not emitted, but are still part of the thing being tasted.
Now ask a hard one - like what is touch?!
2006-09-20 01:04:17 · answer #2 · answered by gvih2g2 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The essence of Smell is the release of a volume of molecules from an object that passes a threshold - allowing recognition by us as a distinct odor.
Another attribute of smell is the rememberence of smells. You could read about a warm, out of the oven apple pie with a delicate brown crust and almost smell it.
2006-09-20 00:47:04 · answer #3 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light exists as waves and particles (photons carrying energy in the form of waves) Our eyes see a very limited region of wavelengths approximately 400 - 600nm in wavelength below this is UV right to gamma and cosmic rays and above this is infrared and microwaves all the way to radio-waves.
Sound is the vibration of a substance - we here sound as vibrations in air - these care carried by compression and expansion of the air molecules - think of a slinky spring where you push it in and out to form compressed and expanded regions - that's why our ears "hear" these compressions by them penetrating the ear further depending on their wavelength.
Smell is us detecting very small quantities of molecules which attach to receptors in our nose. The chemical reaction is then interpreted by our brain as a smell.
2006-09-21 11:12:27 · answer #4 · answered by Stu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smell is chemical molecules that volatile from the smelled object
they arrive to the nose where they react with it and produce an electrical signal that goes to the brain
that signal is being programed previously in the brain as to let you know this smell is from a rose (as an example)
2006-09-21 00:27:00 · answer #5 · answered by latif_1950 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sense of smell is caused by the olfactory receptor neurons in your nose reacting to the molecules in the air. these molecules have evaporated from something, for example a piece of rubbish. the molecule reacts with the neuron, and the neuron sends a message to your brain. the brain interprets this as a "smell". this "smell" is then checked against a list of smells, and the brain will probably recognise this as a piece of rubbish. therefore, smell is actually the reaction that your body has to a molecule that has evaporated from a source.
2006-09-22 16:31:11 · answer #6 · answered by a fellow human 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you smell something, it is just an array of tiny particles in the air that enter your nose and stimulate the cells in your epithelium lining the nasal cavity. The stimulation sends nerve impulses to the brain which convert it into the sensation that we know as a 'smell'.
2006-09-20 12:37:11 · answer #7 · answered by myfairladyisasleep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Light is a wave, Sound is a wave - true. They themselves travel as waves. But they could produce sensations in our eyes or ear (like irritation, pain)
Simlarly SMELL IS ONLY A SENSATION which by itself is not "something that could travel". But it is produced by something that travels, may be the gas molecules from the substance (like flower, perfume).
2006-09-20 01:26:07 · answer #8 · answered by Venkatragavaraj E 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
smell is when molecules of matter travel from that matter to ur nose
ex:
molecules of perfume spread into the air ,some of them enter the nose then the nerves in ur nose drive the signal to the brain which explaines the smell by identifing it
2006-09-20 00:36:36 · answer #9 · answered by sugar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
U hav a wrng idea.
Light has a dual property
either it a wave r a photon
scientist use one of these states to xplain their theories.
Smell:
Chemicals are transmitted throufh air to our noses.
Noses send signals to the brain depending on the chemical.
2006-09-20 00:34:34 · answer #10 · answered by hari_mpkumar 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've actually asked this exact question but the answer seems to be that till today this is an understudied or unknown phenomena.
2006-09-20 00:30:52 · answer #11 · answered by wirelessmouse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋