Final answer:
Higher pitched sounds are created by vibrations with higher frequencies, not by the amplitude of the vibrations. The higher the frequency of the sound wave, the higher its perceived pitch.
Step-by-step explanation:
Higher pitched sounds (more treble) are caused by vibrations with higher frequencies. Pitch is the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone. A higher pitch means that the frequency of the sound wave is higher. Amplitude, on the other hand, determines the loudness or volume of a sound, but not its pitch. Thus, the correct characteristic that causes higher pitched sounds is higher frequencies, not larger or smaller amplitudes or lower frequencies.
For example, when comparing instruments, a smaller instrument like a tambourine produces a higher pitch (higher frequency, shorter wavelength), whereas a larger instrument such as a drum will produce a lower pitch (lower frequency, longer wavelength). Additionally, frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), with most humans able to perceive sounds between the frequencies of 30 Hz and 20,000 Hz. High-frequency sounds (such as those ≥15,000 Hz) are higher-pitched than low-frequency sounds (those ≤100 Hz).