Frequency and Pitch

Adiscussion of audio tones in the physics classroom will include mention of their frequency. The frequency of a periodic signal is a well-defined quantity that can readily be measured. A concept related to frequency is that of pitch. Pitch is a perceived quantity that cannot be measured directly and is most important when listeners characterize periodic acoustic signals. The distinction between frequency and pitch is often simplified or even overlooked entirely. Several examples are presented here that clearly illustrate that pitch and frequency are not always simply related.