Question

Which wave property determines pitch?

Answer 1

Hint Pitch of a sound wave depends upon the frequency of the sound wave . The frequency is the number of vibrations per second. More the number of vibrations per second, higher is the pitch .

Complete Step-by-step Solution
The difference in a male’s voice and a female’s voice can be detected even without seeing them and even if they are speaking with the same loudness . What is this property that distinguishes between the two ?
This is because they have different pitches. The pitch is that characteristic of sound by which two soundwaves of the same amplitude can be distinguished .
The pitch of a sound wave depends upon the frequency of vibration of the sound wave. In fact, the pitch is directly proportional to the frequency of the wave. Higher the frequency of the wave, higher will be its pitch . And if the frequency of the sound wave is low, its pitch will be low as well.
Since the frequency of a sound wave is equal to the number of vibrations per second of the sound source . Faster the vibration of the sound producing source, higher is the frequency and higher is the pitch .
Hence , we can conclude that the pitch of the sound wave is determined by the frequency of vibration of the object producing source .

Note Two sound waves can have the same loudness and still differ in pitches . Loudness is a factor which is determined by the amplitude of the wave . And hence it is possible that two waves of same amplitude have different pitches i.e. one may be flat and other may be shriller.