The relationship between pitch and wavelength is a fundamental concept in the field of sound and acoustics. Pitch refers to how high or low a sound is perceived to be, while wavelength is the distance between successive crests (or troughs) of a wave.
Generally, the higher the pitch of a sound, the shorter its wavelength. Conversely, lower pitches correspond to longer wavelengths. This relationship can be understood through the formula for the speed of sound:
Speed of Sound = Frequency × Wavelength
In this equation, frequency (measured in hertz) is directly related to pitch. When the frequency increases, meaning that a sound wave oscillates more times per second, the wavelength must decrease if the speed of sound remains constant. This is why a high-pitched note, like a whistle, has a much shorter wavelength than a low-pitched note, such as a bass drum.
In summary, pitch and wavelength are inversely related: as one increases, the other decreases. Understanding this relationship helps explain how musical instruments produce different tones and how we perceive sound.