Physics · Glossary

What is Pitch and loudness?

Also known as: pitch · loudness

Definition 21.5 High School Physics · Chapter 21 — Sound and Acoustics

Pitch is the perception of frequency: the higher ff, the higher the note; concert A is 440Hz440\,\mathrm{Hz}, and doubling ff raises the note one octave. Loudness is the perception of amplitude: the stronger the pressure oscillation, the louder; amplification changes loudness, not pitch.

Examples

Example 21.15 (Why you recognize the caller)

A flute’s A is nearly a pure tone; a violin bowing the same 220Hz220\,\mathrm{Hz} adds strong harmonics at 440Hz660Hz and 880Hz440\,\mathrm{Hz}\text{, }660\,\mathrm{Hz}\text{ and }880\,\mathrm{Hz}. Same pitch and loudness, yet no one confuses them: a voice, too, is a spectrum you know by heart.

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