For instance, if you plucked a guitar string lightly, the string would vibrate and give off sound waves with small amplitudes. The resulting sound would be soft, with a low decibel level. If you then plucked the guitar string as hard as you could, the string would vibrate strongly and give off sound waves with large amplitudes. The resulting sound would be loud, with a higher decibel level. More energy results in bigger sound wave amplitudes. The bigger the amplitude of the sound wave, the louder, or more intense, the sound that is produced. Notice that the frequency and the wavelength remain the same; it is the amplitude that determines the loudness.
Amplitude
If you pluck a guitar string lightly are the sound waves large or small?
The sound waves are small.
