Which of the following describes the three parameters that describe the size or magnitude of a sound wave?

• A. Amplitude, Power, and Intensity
• B. Frequency, Wavelength, and Speed
• C. Amplitude Alone
• D. Frequency, Amplitude, and Phase

Answer: (A)

The size or magnitude of a sound wave is described by how large its effects are in terms of pressure variation and energy. Amplitude is the peak pressure change the wave produces; larger amplitude means a louder, stronger wave. Power is the total energy the wave transports per unit time, reflecting how much energy the wave carries overall. Intensity is the power per unit area, telling you how concentrated that energy is as the wave spreads through space. Together, amplitude, power, and intensity capture how big the wave is and how much energy it brings to a given area. Frequency and wavelength describe pitch and how the wave travels, not its size, while phase relates to where the wave is in its cycle rather than how large it is.