Question

Name the factor on which the loudness and softness of sound depends on.

Answer 1

Hint: The loudness or softness of a sound can be described as the intensity of the sound that is heard by an observer or an instrument. The loudness of softness in a sound is measured in dB, short for decibels. We will see the factor(s) that affect the loudness of a sound wave and then try to answer our question.

Complete step by step answer:
The loudness or softness of sound mainly depends on one factor only. This is the intensity of the sound wave. The greater the intensity, the louder the sound wave and the lesser the intensity the softer the sound wave. But intensity cannot be directly measured, so shall see what affects intensity.
Intensity of a sound wave is determined by the amplitude of vibrating particles. This is because the intensity of a sound wave is directly proportional to the square of amplitude of particles vibrating in the sound wave. Mathematically, this could be written as:
$\Rightarrow I\propto {{A}^{2}}$
Thus, it is the Amplitude of the sound wave which defines the loudness of a sound wave.
Hence, the factor on which the loudness and softness of sound depends on is Amplitude of the sound wave.

Note: The loudness of a sound should not be confused with the thickness of a sound. It can be understood by the following example: the thickness in sound is determined by its pitch which is determined by the frequency of the sound wave. Boys have deeper or “thick” voices whereas girls have “shallower” or thin voices. Both of them can have the same loudness but different pitch in their voice.