Question

Name the factor on which loudness and softness of sound depends on.

Answer 1

Amplitude:

1. It may be defined as the maximum displacement or distance moved by a point on a vibrating body or wave measured from its equilibrium position.
2. The loudness or softness of a sound may be described as the intensity of the sound that is heard by an observer or an instrument.
3. The loudness or softness of a sound is measured in dB, short for decibels and mainly depends upon the intensity of the sound wave.
4. The more the intensity, the louder the sound wave, and the lesser the intensity the softer will be the sound wave.
5. But intensity cannot be directly measured, so we will see what affects intensity.
6. The intensity of a sound wave is determined by the amplitude of vibrating particles.
7. This is because the intensity of a sound wave is directly proportional to the square of the amplitude of particles vibrating in the sound wave.
8. Mathematically, this could be written as: $I\propto A^2$, Where $I$=intensity, $A$= amplitude.
9. Thus, it is the amplitude of the sound wave which is the measure of the loudness of a sound wave.

Hence, the factor on which the loudness and softness of sound depend is the amplitude of the sound wave.