Question

The difference between musical sound and noise is due to:

• A. Musical instruments
• B. wave lengths
• C. Pitch
• D. Intensity

Answer 1

The correct option is C Pitch

Pitch is that characteristic of a musical sound by which a shrill sound can be distinguished from a grave one, even though the two sounds may be of the same intensity. It is also defined as that characteristic of sound by which the ear assigns it a place on a musical scale. When a stretched string is plucked, a sound of a certain pitch sensation is produced. If the tension in the string is increased, the pitch (the shrillness) becomes higher. Increasing the tension also increases the frequency of vibration. Therefore, the pitch is intimately related to frequency. But frequency alone does not determine the pitch. Below $1000Hz$, the pitch is slightly higher than the frequency and above $1000Hz$ the position is reversed. The loudness of sound also affects the pitch up to $1000Hz$. An increase in loudness causes a decrease in pitch. From about $1000$ to $3000Hz$, the pitch is independent of loudness, while above $3000Hz$ an increase in loudness causes an increase in pitch.

Hence, the difference between musical sound and noise is due to pitch.