Final answer:
Light is perceived based on its wavelength and amplitude, correlating to color and brightness, while sound is perceived based on its frequency and amplitude, relating to pitch and loudness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physical Aspects of Light and Sound
The physical properties of light and sound are essential to understanding how they are perceived. For light, this includes aspects such as wavelength, amplitude, and photon behavior. The wavelength of light determines the color we perceive, while the amplitude is associated with brightness.
In terms of sound, the physical attributes like frequency and amplitude influence our auditory perceptions; frequency correlates with pitch, and amplitude corresponds with loudness.
Perception of Light
As light waves enter the eye through the pupil, they are focused by the lens onto the retina, specifically the fovea for detailed vision. The retina's cones and rods convert light into neural signals, which are then processed by the brain to produce visual images. Longer wavelengths of light are perceived as red, while shorter wavelengths are perceived as blue or violet.
Perception of Sound
Sound travels as waves through mediums such as air, water, or solids. The frequency of these waves (measured in Hz) is directly related to the sound's pitch. Humans can typically hear frequencies between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz, with the highest sensitivity to mid-range frequencies.