Question

The characteristic of sound which distinguishes a feeble sound from a loud sound of the same frequency is -
A. Loudness
B. pitch
C. music
D. noise

Answer 1

Hint: Sound is a mechanical wave. It is also known as a pressure wave. In air or gas, a sound wave is reacted as a longitudinal wave. Waves are created when energy is transferred through a medium. Sound waves have compressions and rarefactions regions.

Complete step by step answer:
Sound is defined as a form of energy which makes us hear. Sound can propagate through a medium. It can propagate through a medium such as air, water and solids. In solids sound waves can be propagated as longitudinal waves and also as a transverse wave.
For solving questions we first study the characteristics of sound waves. Then compare all options with feeble sound and loud sound.
By considering all options in question, we obtained following important points to solving question:
Loudness only depends upon amplitude of sound. It is independent of frequency of sound waves. The unit of loudness is decibel (dB).
Pitch only depends on frequency of vibration of sound waves. If frequency of vibration is low, then pitch of sound is said to have lower pitch. On the other hand, if the frequency of vibration is higher, then pitch of sound is known as high pitch.
Musical sound is defined as, it is generated by periodic motions.
Noise is defined as unwanted sound. It affects the natural environment. It is generated by non-periodic motions.
On comprising all options, we get that Loudness is the characteristic of sound which distinguishes a feeble sound from a loud sound of the same frequency.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Additional Information:
The behavior sound wave propagation is generally affected by following parameters:
Density and pressure of the medium. Temperature affects the density and pressure.
Motion of medium itself. The movement of the medium affects the speed of the sound wave.
The viscosity of the medium affects the speed of sound waves. Air has minimum viscosity, so the speed of sound waves will be negligibly affected.

Note:
The phenomena of loudness and pitch are not the same. They differ on the basis of their tone quality. The pitch of a sound is the response of our ear to the frequency of the sound wave whereas loudness is defined by the energy of the sound wave. On the other hand loudness is totally different from intensity of sound.