What is the term for the number of sound waves that occur in one second?

The term that refers to the number of sound waves that occur in one second is frequency. Frequency is a fundamental concept in the study of sound waves and is measured in hertz (Hz), where one hertz equals one cycle per second. This characteristic of sound waves directly relates to how high or low a pitch sounds; a higher frequency corresponds to a higher pitch, while a lower frequency corresponds to a lower pitch.

In contrast, amplitude measures the height of a sound wave, which relates to its loudness, but does not indicate how many sound waves occur in a given time frame. Overtones and harmonics refer to additional frequencies that occur above the fundamental frequency when an instrument produces a sound, but they do not describe the rate of sound wave occurrence. Thus, frequency is the correct term for the number of sound waves that occur in one second.