An Error in Helmholtz's Calculation of the Displacement of the Tympanic Membrane
William F. Hartman · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1971
The drum-leverage hypothesis of Helmholtz was apparently substantiated by measurements that he made of the volume displacement of the tympanic membrane. Later experiments by others indicated gross inconsistency with his reported results, and his hypothesis was rejected, but a proper explanation for the difference has been lacking. It is shown that his measurements were probably correct, but that he made a fruitful error in calculation.