Frequency is defined as which of the following?

Frequency is defined as which of the following?

• A. The number of vibrations per second; determines pitch (Hz)
• B. The height of a sound wave; determines loudness
• C. The shape of the sound wave; determines timbre
• D. The duration of a sound wave; determines rhythm

Answer: (A)

Frequency is about how many times a sound wave cycles per second. This rate, measured in hertz, is the physical basis for pitch—the higher the frequency, the higher the perceived pitch. In other words, frequency, in hertz, directly corresponds to how high or low a note sounds. Other properties describe different aspects of sound: loudness comes from how large the vibrations are (amplitude), timbre comes from the precise shape and harmonic content of the wave, and rhythm comes from how long the sound lasts over time. So identifying frequency as cycles per second that determine pitch helps separate this aspect from loudness, timbre, and rhythm.

Frequency is about how many times a sound wave cycles per second. This rate, measured in hertz, is the physical basis for pitch—the higher the frequency, the higher the perceived pitch. In other words, frequency, in hertz, directly corresponds to how high or low a note sounds. Other properties describe different aspects of sound: loudness comes from how large the vibrations are (amplitude), timbre comes from the precise shape and harmonic content of the wave, and rhythm comes from how long the sound lasts over time. So identifying frequency as cycles per second that determine pitch helps separate this aspect from loudness, timbre, and rhythm.