Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: high energy
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Waves appear in many forms, such as water waves, sound waves, and light waves. Important properties of waves include amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. This question checks whether you know how amplitude is related to the energy carried by a wave and whether it has any direct link to pitch.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
For mechanical waves, such as sound and water waves, the energy transported by the wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude. A larger amplitude means that particles of the medium move farther from their rest position and therefore have more kinetic and potential energy during the oscillation. Pitch, on the other hand, is determined by frequency. A higher frequency sound is heard as a higher pitch. Since amplitude and frequency are independent properties, a high amplitude does not automatically imply a high pitch.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
In everyday life, when you speak more loudly, you increase the amplitude of the sound waves without changing the note you are singing. The sound becomes more energetic and intense but may have the same pitch. This confirms that amplitude controls loudness and energy, while frequency controls pitch.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A: High pitch is associated with high frequency, not with amplitude, so this is incorrect.
Option B: Low energy is the opposite of what a high amplitude wave has, so this is clearly wrong.
Option D: Low pitch again wrongly connects amplitude with pitch, so it is not correct.
Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse loudness and pitch when thinking about sound. They might think that a loud sound must be high pitched. In fact, loudness relates to amplitude and pitch relates to frequency. Keeping these terms separate in your mind helps when answering wave questions in physics exams.
Final Answer:
A wave with high amplitude has high energy.
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