Linear vs. Logarithmic Scales

On a linear scale,

a change between two values is perceived on the basis of their difference
e.g., a change from 1 to 2 would be perceived as having the same increase as from 4 to 5.

On a logarithmic scale,

a change between two values is perceived on the basis of their ratio
e.g., a change from 1 to 2 (ratio of 1:2) would be perceived as having the same increase as a change from 4 to 8 (also a ratio of 1:2).

**Figure 4:** Moving one unit to the right increments by 1 on the linear scale and multiplies by a factor of 10 on the logarithmic scale.
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``Music 171: Sinusoids'' by Tamara Smyth, Department of Music, University of California, San Diego (UCSD).