For sinusoidal tones, frequency specifies the rate of phase advance and is a principal determinant of perceived pitch. Holding amplitude and the time axis fixed separates this rate from wave height. Complex sounds can have pitch relationships involving several frequencies, so the single-frequency comparison is a starting model rather than a complete theory of hearing.
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What makes one note higher than another?
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frequency
The number of complete cycles per second.
pitch
How high or low a sound is perceived.
Watch · Try · Explain
See how it works
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Pure-tone frequency comparison over 20 milliseconds; motion is slowed and no audio is produced.
What to look for
- Both graphs use the same time window
- Higher frequency fits more cycles
- Amplitude is held fixed
Explain what you noticed
Tone A makes 300 cycles each second and tone B makes 600. Which simple tone usually has the higher pitch?
Keep this idea: Compare cycle counts over the same time, not wave heights.
Follow the sources
- NIH Curriculum Supplement — Hearing, Communication, and Understanding
- NIH / NIDCD — How Is Sound Measured?
- OpenStax, Rice University — Speed of Sound, Frequency, and Wavelength
Source material checked 2026-10-29. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Source links do not imply endorsement.
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