Which of the following pairs correctly matches the perceptual attribute to its primary physical correlate?

• A. Pitch — Frequency
• B. Loudness — Time
• C. Timbre — Amplitude
• D. Duration — Frequency

Answer: (A)

Pitch is the perception of how high or low a sound feels, and the primary physical correlate of this is frequency—the rate at which the sound wave repeats each second. When the vibration happens more times per second, we hear a higher pitch; when it happens fewer times per second, the pitch is lower.

Loudness, on the other hand, relates to how strong or intense the sound is, which corresponds mainly to amplitude (and energy) of the wave, not to time. Timbre is about the quality or color of the sound, determined by the harmonic content and spectral makeup of the signal, not its amplitude. Duration simply describes how long the sound lasts, independent of its frequency.