If both of the waves pictured above are sound waves, the pitches they make would be different. The pitch of a sound wave describes how high or low a sound is. A sound that is very high is described as high pitched, while a sound that is very low is described as low pitched. The pitch of a sound is related to the wavelength and frequency of a sound wave. If a sound wave has a greater frequency (a smaller wavelength) it will make a higher pitched sound, just like the wave on the right. If a wave has a smaller frequency (and a bigger wavelength) it will make a lower pitched sound, like the wave on the left.

To analyze the relationship between pitch, frequency, and wavelength in sound waves, let's extract the known conditions and explain the concepts step by step. ### Known Conditions: 1. **Pitch**: Describes how high or low a sound is. 2. **High Pitch**: Associated with a higher frequency and a smaller wavelength. 3. **Low Pitch**: Associated with a lower frequency and a larger wavelength. 4. **Relationship**: The pitch of a sound wave is inversely related to its wavelength and directly related to its frequency. ### Concepts Explained: 1. **Frequency (f)**: The number of cycles of a wave that pass a point in one second, measured in Hertz (Hz). 2. **Wavelength (λ)**: The distance between successive crests (or troughs) of a wave, typically measured in meters. 3. **Speed of Sound (v)**: The speed at which sound waves travel through a medium, which can be calculated using the formula: \[ v = f \cdot \lambda \] where \( v \) is the speed of sound, \( f \) is the frequency, and \( \lambda \) is the wavelength. ### Step-by-Step Analysis: 1. **Understanding High-Pitched Sound**: - A sound wave with a high pitch has a high frequency. For example, if we consider a frequency of \( f_1 \) and a corresponding wavelength \( \lambda_1 \), we can express the relationship as: \[ v = f_1 \cdot \lambda_1 \] - Since \( f_1 \) is high, \( \lambda_1 \) must be small to maintain the constant speed of sound. 2. **Understanding Low-Pitched Sound**: - Conversely, a sound wave with a low pitch has a low frequency. If we denote this frequency as \( f_2 \) and its corresponding wavelength as \( \lambda_2 \), we have: \[ v = f_2 \cdot \lambda_2 \] - Here, since \( f_2 \) is low, \( \lambda_2 \) must be larger. ### Conclusion: - The pitch of a sound is determined by its frequency and wavelength. Higher frequencies correspond to shorter wavelengths and higher pitches, while lower frequencies correspond to longer wavelengths and lower pitches. If you have specific values for frequency or wavelength, we can perform calculations to illustrate these relationships further.