What describes an intermittent sound?

An intermittent sound is characterized by loud sounds that stop and start. This definition captures the essence of what it means for sound to be intermittent: it occurs in bursts rather than sustained continuously. Such sounds may have periods of silence interspersed with louder moments, which can be common in various environments, such as machinery or alarms that activate at intervals.

The other options describe different characteristics of sound. For example, constant noise refers to sounds that remain at a steady volume without interruption; soft and steady sounds maintain a low amplitude without fluctuation or break; short bursts of low frequency, while part of the intermittent sound category, do not necessarily describe the loud nature of the sound but rather its frequency characteristics, which is a different aspect compared to the volume variations highlighted in the correct choice. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific nature of intermittent sounds in contrast to other types of auditory phenomena.