What do we mean by 'pitch' and 'vibration' in relation to sound? - Teacher notes

Pitch and vibration are fundamental concepts when exploring the nature of sound. Pitch refers to the perceived frequency of a sound wave, which determines how high or low a sound seems to a listener. It is directly related to the frequency of the vibrations that produce the sound; higher frequencies result in higher pitches, while lower frequencies produce lower pitches. For example, when a musician plays a note on a violin, tightening the string increases the frequency of the vibrations, thus raising the pitch of the note heard.

Vibration, on the other hand, is the rapid back and forth motion of particles that occurs when an object makes a sound. Sound is created by these vibrations, which travel through a medium such as air, water, or solids as sound waves. When an object vibrates, it causes the surrounding particles to move, which then causes adjacent particles to move, creating a wave of energy that propagates away from the source. These vibrations reaching our ears are interpreted by the brain as sound. Understanding these concepts is enhanced through practical application, such as using musical instruments to explore how altering the vibrations changes the pitch and volume of the sound produced.