Final answer:
The pitch of a sound stimulus is related to the frequency of vibration. Higher-frequency sounds have a higher pitch, while lower-frequency sounds have a lower pitch. Frequency, measured in hertz (Hz), is the key characteristic affecting the perception of pitch.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pitch of a sound stimulus is related to the physical characteristic of frequency of vibration. When discussing the perception of pitch, it is important to understand that higher-frequency sounds are perceived as having a higher pitch, while lower-frequency sounds are perceived as having a lower pitch. Pitch is therefore not significantly influenced by the other options like the amplitude (which affects loudness), distance from the source (which may affect volume), complexity of the waves (which can affect the timbre), or air temperature (which can affect the speed of sound).
Sound is a wave, and as is true for all waves, frequency is a fundamental characteristic. It is measured in hertz (Hz), which is the number of waves per unit of time. Most humans can hear sounds with frequencies between 30 Hz and 20,000 Hz. High-frequency sounds are higher-pitched, and low-frequency sounds are lower-pitched. This relationship is critical to understanding how different sounds are perceived in terms of pitch.