‘Pitch’ is a characteristic of sound that depends upon its

The pitch of a sound is a subjective auditory sensation that allows listeners to order sounds on a scale from 'low' to 'high'. This characteristic is primarily determined by the fundamental frequency of the sound wave, which refers to the number of cycles or vibrations occurring per second, measured in Hertz (Hz) [1]. There is a direct proportional relationship between these two: high-frequency sound waves produce high-pitched sounds (like a bird chirping), while low-frequency waves result in low-pitched sounds (like a lion's roar) [1]. While intensity relates to the loudness or amplitude of the sound and quality (timbre) relates to the waveform or complexity, it is the frequency that defines the perceived pitch. Although factors like duration and sound pressure can slightly influence perception, frequency remains the fundamental physical determinant [2].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 13: Movements of Ocean Water > Characteristics of Waves > p. 109
2. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_(music)