JAMB Physics 2023 Paper

Concept:Pitch is the ear’s response to frequency, so any real change in pitch must come from a change in frequency.Explanation:For a stringed instrument, the frequency is given by $f = \frac{1}{2L}\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}$, where $T$ is the tension and $\mu$ is the mass per unit length of the string.Therefore, the factor among the options that most directly and strongly controls frequency is the tension of the string.Increasing tension makes the string vibrate faster, which raises the frequency and therefore raises the pitch.The shape, size, and material of an instrument mainly affect the overtones and the quality of the note rather than the fundamental pitch.If two instruments have exactly the same frequency, their pitches are the same; to produce a pitch difference, the frequency must change, and string tension is the factor that can do this most readily.Answer:The tension of the string — Option B.