What is the relationship between the frequency of a sound wave and its pitch?

The correct choice, which indicates that higher frequency corresponds to higher pitch, is rooted in the fundamental principles of sound waves and human perception. Sound waves are vibrations that travel through a medium, and their frequency refers to the number of cycles of the wave that pass a specific point in one second.

When the frequency of a sound wave increases, the number of vibrations per second also increases, which results in a sound that we perceive as having a higher pitch. For example, when a musician plays a note on a high-pitched instrument like a flute, it vibrates at a higher frequency compared to a low-pitched instrument like a tuba. This attribute of frequency is what allows us to distinguish between different sounds, such as a high whistle versus a deep bass note.

Understanding this relationship is crucial, as it explains how we interpret sounds in our environment. The pitch we hear is directly linked to the frequency of the sound wave, making this choice the most accurate representation of the correlation between frequency and perceived pitch.