The term for the characteristic of sound that determines how high or low it sounds is which of the following?

The term for the characteristic of sound that determines how high or low it sounds is which of the following?

• A. Frequency
• B. Noise
• C. Amplitude
• D. Wave

Answer: (A)

Pitch is set by the frequency of the sound wave—the number of pressure cycles per second. A higher frequency means the cylinders of air vibrate more rapidly, which our ears interpret as a higher pitch; a lower frequency means slower vibrations and a lower pitch. Frequency is measured in hertz (cycles per second). Amplitude affects how loud the sound is, not how high or low it sounds. Noise refers to a sound with many frequencies and doesn’t describe a single pitch, while a wave is the general traveling disturbance that carries the sound.

Pitch is set by the frequency of the sound wave—the number of pressure cycles per second. A higher frequency means the cylinders of air vibrate more rapidly, which our ears interpret as a higher pitch; a lower frequency means slower vibrations and a lower pitch. Frequency is measured in hertz (cycles per second). Amplitude affects how loud the sound is, not how high or low it sounds. Noise refers to a sound with many frequencies and doesn’t describe a single pitch, while a wave is the general traveling disturbance that carries the sound.