Science Common Sense
301 - What are the five senses, and how do they work?
Our five senses help us understand and enjoy the world around us. They are:
Sight (Eyes): We see things because light enters our eyes, and it sends signals to our brain. Our eyes have special cells called 'rods and cones' that help us see colors and shapes.
Hearing (Ears): When sound waves reach our ears, they make tiny parts inside our ears move. These movements send signals to our brain, and we hear sounds.
Taste (Tongue): When we eat food, tiny particles from the food touch special tiny hairs on our tongue called 'taste buds.' They send signals to our brain, and we feel the different tastes – sweet, salty, sour, or bitter.
Smell (Nose): Smells travel through the air as tiny particles. When we breathe in these particles, they enter our nose and touch special tiny hairs called 'olfactory receptors.' These hairs send signals to our brain, and we smell things.
Touch (Skin): Our skin is very sensitive. When we touch something, tiny nerve cells under our skin send signals to our brain, telling us if it's soft, hard, cold, or hot.
In short, our five senses use tiny helpers in our body (like rods and cones, taste buds, olfactory receptors, or nerve cells) to send signals to our brain. Our brain then makes sense of these signals and helps us understand what's happening in the world around us.