What describes a sound wave of greater intensity that the human ear finds loud?

Prepare for the DIVE Integrated Chemistry and Physics (ICP) Quarterly Exam 4 with our interactive quizzes. Study key ICP concepts with flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and detailed explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

The term that best describes a sound wave of greater intensity, which the human ear perceives as loud, is loudness. Loudness is the subjective perception of the intensity of a sound. It is influenced by the sound wave's amplitude, which represents the maximum displacement of the wave from its rest position. A greater amplitude corresponds to a more intense sound wave, which is experienced as louder.

While pitch relates to the frequency of the sound wave and indicates how high or low a sound is perceived, it does not measure the intensity or loudness of the sound. Frequency, representing the number of waves passing a point per second, impacts pitch but not intensity. Therefore, loudness is the appropriate descriptor for a sound wave that is perceived as loud due to its greater intensity.

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