Final answer:
As acoustic pressure increases, the intensity of a sound wave increases. Intensity is related to the amplitude of the wave, which indicates the level of pressure variations within the sound. This increase in intensity does not directly affect the speed of sound, wavelength, or frequency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the properties of sound waves and how they change with increased acoustic pressure. As acoustic pressure increases, the correct answer is c) intensity. The intensity of a sound wave is directly related to the square of its amplitude. When you are speaking more loudly, the amplitude of the wave increases, indicating stronger pressure variations within the sound wave, which, in turn, means the intensity of the sound is greater. The speed of sound (which answers question 5) is primarily dependent on the properties of the medium and not on the intensity or acoustic pressure. The speed of sound, wavelength, and frequency have specific relationships defined by the wave equation, but those are not altered by the amplitude or intensity of the wave.
Regarding the additional points, it is important to correct some misconceptions:
- The speed of sound is not affected by the amplitude of the sound wave.
- As sound waves move away from the source, their amplitude decreases, leading to a decrease in intensity, not because their speed decreases but because the wave's energy is distributed over a larger area.
- Wavelength can affect the amount of energy transferred during the compressions and rarefactions of a sound wave, but it does not directly correlate with the overall intensity of sound related to acoustic pressure.