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3.1 WAVES

P31 007

The following sound waveforms are recorded and displayed on the screen of an oscilloscope (all waveforms are recorded with the same voltage and time scales).

(A)

(B)

(C)

Which waveform represents the most intense sound?

Which waveform represents the sound with the highest pitch?

Explain your answers.

View solution below only after you have completed answering the question. The solution is not in a form that you would answer in an examination. The answers are often in more detail to help improve your appreciation and understanding of the physics.

Solution

Figure (A) has the largest amplitude and hence will correspond to the loudest sound (most intense).

Figure (C) represents the waveform with the smallest period and hence greatest frequency. So, figure (C) is the waveform that represents the sound of the highest pitch.