History quiz

What properties of waves affect the pitch and loudness sound?

The properties of waves that affect the pitch and loudness of sound are frequency and amplitude, respectively.

Frequency

The frequency of a wave is the number of oscillations per second. Measured in hertz(Hz), it determines the pitch of a sound. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. For example, if two sound waves have the same amplitude but different frequencies, then the one with the higher frequency will sound higher in pitch.

Amplitude

The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of a wave from its equilibrium. Measured in meters, it controls the loudness of a sound. The greater the amplitude, the louder the sound. Conversely, the lower the amplitude, the softer the sound. So if two sound waves have the same frequency but different amplitudes, the one with the greater amplitude will sound louder.

In summary, frequency is associated with pitch while amplitude influences loudness. Together, these properties influence the overall perception of sound.