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Question

Difficulty: EasyWaves, Sound, and Light

Which property of a sound wave directly determines how loud it sounds to a listener?

  1. A
    Frequency
  2. AmplitudeAnswer
  3. C
    Wavelength
  4. D
    Wave speed

Answer

Amplitude
The loudness or volume of a sound is directly governed by its amplitude. A sound wave with a larger amplitude carries more mechanical energy and produces greater pressure fluctuations, which human ears perceive as a louder sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify what physical characteristic of a sound wave corresponds to sound volume or intensity.
Loudness is determined by the energy carried by the wave, which is directly proportional to the square of its amplitude.
Greater amplitude means particles in the medium vibrate with greater displacement, creating larger pressure variations detected as louder sound.
2
Distinguish amplitude from frequency and wavelength.
Frequency and wavelength determine the pitch of the sound, whereas amplitude dictates loudness.
Separating wave energy characteristics (amplitude) from wave oscillation rates (frequency) identifies amplitude as the correct property.

Key Concept

Relationship between sound wave amplitude and perceived loudness
Estimated Time:30s
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Topics

Waves, Sound, and Light

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