Which property determines the loudness or softness of a sound wave?
The property that determines the loudness or softness of a sound wave is called amplitude. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of particles from their rest position as a sound wave passes through a medium, such as air, water, or solids.
To understand how amplitude affects the loudness or softness of a sound wave, let's consider an analogy with a vibrating string. When you pluck a guitar string gently, it vibrates with a small amplitude, producing a soft sound. But when you pluck it harder, the string vibrates with a larger amplitude, producing a louder sound. The same principle applies to sound waves in general.
To measure the amplitude of a sound wave, you can use a microphone connected to a sound level meter or an oscilloscope. The sound level meter displays the intensity of the sound in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic scale that represents the relative loudness as perceived by the human ear.
In summary, the loudness or softness of a sound wave is determined by its amplitude. A larger amplitude corresponds to a louder sound, while a smaller amplitude corresponds to a softer sound.