How does ear/brain percieve max sound intensity that exists at the antinodes of a standing wave?

Answer 1

The ear drum vibrates in response to air pressure in the ear canal. Nerves pick it up and send it to the brain. The antinodes of a vibrating object are the lines of maximum displacement, so the air is pressurized there most. Sound in air falls of in intensity with distance, so if your ear was closest to the antinode, the pressure in the ear canal would be greatest there. This can be most easily tested if the vibrating object were large, like a gong or base drum.