A Silent Threat: Raising Awareness of Noise Pollution through a Physics-Based Educational Proposal

Abstract

Young people today are constantly exposed to sound levels that are harmful to both their physical and psychological health.
The constant misuse of headphones, which has become widespread in our schools, is concerning, or should be concerning, for teaching staff, since it not only causes long-term and irreversible physical damage, but also leads to educational consequences such as stress, anxiety, lack of concentration, and therefore difficulties in learning.
Although school policies have promoted awareness of important topics such as Comprehensive Sexual Education (ESI), road safety, and environmental education as cross-curricular themes, within the latter, acoustic pollution has received less attention in schools.
The purpose of this article is to encourage and provide teachers with tools so that, through Physics, Physical Chemistry, Biology, or even Music, they can teach and raise awareness among their students about this important issue that affects their lives and harms their health without them being fully aware of it.
Teaching students to become aware, and to raise awareness among others, is the first step in fighting this silent threat known as acoustic pollution.