Compared to a soft sound, a louder sound wave of the same frequency is characterised by __________.
- AOption (a)
Smaller wavelength
- BOption (b)
Higher pitch
- COption (c)
Larger amplitude
- DOption (d)
Smaller speed
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Correct answer
Larger amplitude
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Larger Amplitude.
Key Points
- Amplitude is directly related to the loudness of a sound. A louder sound corresponds to a sound wave with a larger amplitude. Hence, the correct answer is Larger Amplitude.
- The frequency of the sound wave determines its pitch and does not change in this scenario, as the question specifies that both sounds have the same frequency.
- The wavelength of a sound wave is inversely proportional to its frequency, but since the frequency is constant in this case, the wavelength remains unchanged.
- The speed of sound depends on the medium through which the sound travels and is not affected by the loudness or amplitude of the sound.
- Thus, a louder sound wave is characterized by a larger amplitude, which results in higher energy being transmitted through the medium.
Additional Information
- Amplitude:
- The amplitude of a sound wave refers to the maximum displacement of particles in the medium from their equilibrium position.
- A higher amplitude corresponds to a louder sound, while a lower amplitude corresponds to a softer sound.
- Amplitude is measured in terms of decibels (dB) when describing the loudness of a sound.
- Frequency and Pitch:
- Frequency is the number of oscillations or cycles of a wave per second and is measured in Hertz (Hz).
- The pitch of a sound is determined by its frequency: higher frequency results in a higher pitch, while lower frequency results in a lower pitch.
- In this question, frequency is constant, so the pitch does not change.
- Wavelength:
- The wavelength of a sound wave is the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs.
- It is inversely related to the frequency: higher frequency results in a shorter wavelength, and lower frequency results in a longer wavelength.
- Since the frequency remains the same, the wavelength also remains constant in this case.
- Speed of Sound:
- The speed of sound depends on the properties of the medium, such as its density and elasticity.
- In air, the speed of sound at room temperature is approximately 343 meters per second (m/s).
- The speed of sound is independent of the amplitude or loudness of the sound wave.
Important Points
- Loudness and Energy: The loudness of a sound is related to the energy carried by the sound wave. A wave with a higher amplitude carries more energy, which makes it louder.
- Sound Intensity: The intensity of a sound wave is proportional to the square of its amplitude. This means that even a small increase in amplitude can result in a significant increase in loudness.
- Perception of Loudness: The human ear perceives loudness on a logarithmic scale. A 10 dB increase in sound level is perceived as approximately twice as loud.
- Applications: Understanding amplitude and loudness is crucial in fields such as audio engineering, acoustics, and noise control.