Question

Which of the following properties of a sound wave determine its pitch?
A. Amplitude
B. Distance from sound to source
C. Frequency
D. Speed

Answer 1

Hint: Sound wave is characterized by 3 factors i.e. pitch, loudness and quality. Every sound has a particular pitch, loudness and quality. Everything we can hear through our ears has a certain pitch. It is dependent on the rapidity with which a sound wave is vibrating. It does not have a magnitude. But, through the property which it is determined has magnitude. It tells about the shrillness of the sound.

Complete answer:
Sound waves need medium to travel from one position to another. It cannot travel in space. Sound waves are characterized by three factors which are loudness, pitch and quality.
Loudness is defined as a sensation of how strong a wave is at a particular position. It is a relative term and a dimensionless quantity.
Quality can also be referred to as timber. It distinguishes between different sounds coming from different sources. It also distinguishes one sound from another having the same loudness and pitch.
Pitch is a property that defines the quality of sound. It is the rise or fall in our voice when we speak. Sound waves with high frequency have a high pitch and sound waves with low frequency have a low pitch. Due to pitch we can identify the voice of men and women without even seeing them. Men have a high pitch while women have a low pitch.
Thus, pitch is determined by the frequency of the sound wave.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note:
Pitch tells us how sharp or deep the sound wave is. As the pitch depends on frequency similarly loudness depends on amplitude of vibration. When the amplitude is high, loudness is also high. It also depends on the distance of the listener from the source of sound. Further the source of sound, lower is the loudness.