A student observes two different musical notes from two sources. Note X has a greater number of compressions passing a fixed point per second than Note Y, but both have the same loudness. Based on the characteristics of sound, what can be concluded about Note X compared to Note Y?
Note X has a higher frequency than Note Y but equal amplitude.
Sound travels as a longitudinal wave of compressions and rarefactions. The number of compressions (or rarefactions) passing a fixed point per second is the frequency of the sound, measured in hertz.
Since more compressions of Note X pass the fixed point each second, Note X has a higher frequency than Note Y, so it also has a higher pitch.
Loudness depends on the amplitude of the wave: a larger amplitude gives a louder sound. As both notes have the same loudness, their amplitudes are equal.
The speed of sound depends on the medium (and its temperature), not on frequency, so both notes travel at the same speed in air. Equal frequency or lower frequency for Note X would contradict the greater number of compressions per second, and a higher amplitude would make it louder.
Hence, Note X has a higher frequency than Note Y but equal amplitude.
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