What determines the intensity of a sound?

The intensity of a sound is determined by the amplitude of sound waves. Amplitude refers to the height of the sound wave; higher amplitudes result in louder sounds, while lower amplitudes produce softer sounds. This relationship explains why changes in amplitude translate directly to variations in sound intensity.

Frequency, which relates to the pitch of the sound, does not affect intensity but rather how high or low the sound seems to a listener. Duration refers to the length of time the sound waves are produced; while it may affect how a sound is perceived over time, it does not influence the sound’s intensity itself. Pitch, as it pertains to frequency, also does not impact the intensity level, as it relates to the qualitative aspect of sounds rather than their loudness. Thus, amplitude is the crucial factor in determining how intense a sound is experienced.