Question

What is the loudness of sound? What factors does it depend on?

Answer 1

Hint: In this question we have been asked to define what is the loudness of sound. We have also been asked to state the factors affecting the loudness of sound. Therefore, to answer this question we shall discuss what is the loudness of sound. We shall also discuss the factors that it depends on. We know that loudness is a characteristic of sound. It refers to how much energy a sound has. The more the energy the more the sound or loudness of sound will be.

Complete answer:
It is known that sound is a pressure wave caused by vibrating particles when something hits the other. The particles vibrate back and forth and thus the wave is propagated. We know that loudness is a characteristic of sound. The loudness of sound is the response of the ear to the sound. The loudness of a sound is the energy a wave of sound contains. The loudness of sound can also be defined as sound pressure. It is basically the measure of the intensity of sound.
Loudness is measured in decibels (dB). The decibel relates the intensity of the pressure wave to the normal pressure wave. At a high level of decibels, the sound waves have great intensity. Therefore, the loudness of sound or volume is more. The loudness of a sound depends on the amplitude of the wave. The loudness of sound is proportional to the square of the amplitude. The loudness of sound also depends on the sensitivity of the human ear.

Note: Loudness is the measure of how strong a sound wave is at the place. Therefore, it depends on the amplitude of the wave. If the amplitude is higher, the sound will be louder. If a guitar string is loosened and the guitarist plucks it, the sound produced would be lighter. But if the same string is plucked with more energy, it starts vibrating at high amplitude, producing a loud sound.