Which component influences the intensity of a sound wave?

The intensity of a sound wave is primarily influenced by its amplitude. Intensity refers to the power carried by the sound wave per unit area and is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the wave. As the amplitude increases, more energy is transmitted, resulting in a higher intensity of sound. This relationship explains why louder sounds (those with higher amplitudes) are perceived as having greater intensity compared to quieter sounds.

While factors like the medium through which sound travels and the characteristics of the sound source can affect how sound waves propagate, they do not directly influence the inherent intensity of the sound wave itself determined by its amplitude. Frequency, on the other hand, relates to the pitch of the sound and does not affect the intensity. Therefore, the aspect that directly influences sound intensity is the amplitude of the sound wave.