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Explore Waves

Characteristics of Waves

How can you describe and model a wave?

All waves have similar characteristics and can be represented with a simple mathematical model.

The wavelength is the length of one complete wave cycle. The amplitude of a wave is the maximum distance that a particle moves from its rest position. The frequency of a wave is the number of cycles that occur in a given amount of time.
A diagram of a waveform that looks like a series of three valleys and peaks.

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The waveform is displayed on a set of axes with the vertical axis labeled “distance from rest”; the horizontal axis indicates direction of travel to the right. The horizontal axis cuts through the center of the waveform, marking the rest position. The three highest points of the waveform are labeled as crests. The three lowest points are labeled as troughs. The amplitude is the distance between the rest position and a peak or a trough. The wavelength is the length of one complete wave cycle, such as from crest to crest.

The energy of a wave is related to both its amplitude and its frequency. The larger the amplitude or frequency of a wave, the more energy it transfers.

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