What is loudness of sound ? What factors does it depend on ?

Explanation

The sensation produced in the ears which enables us to distinguish between a faint sounds (feeble sound) and a loud sound is called loudness of sound. The loudness of sound depends on the amplitude of sound waves. Since the amplitude of a sound wave is equal to the amplitude of vibrations of the source which produces the sound wave, we can also say that: The loudness of sound depends on the amplitude of vibration of the source producing the sound waves. This point will become clear from the following example. When we strike a table lightly, then due to less energy supplied, the table top vibrates with a small amplitude and hence a faint sound (or soft sound) is produced. If, however, we hit the table hard, then due to greater energy supplied, the table top vibrates with a large amplitude and hence produces a loud sound. Thus, the loudness of sound depends on the force with which an object it made to vibrate.