Amplitude:


Define: The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement between the normal position of the medium to it's position at the wave's crest. The amplitude of a wave can also be measured by the distance between the normal position and the wave's trough.


Unit: m meter cm centimeter mm millimeter


Example: An object has a resting position of 0. A wave lifts the object to a maximum height of 5 meters above the resting position. What is the amplitude of the wave? Maximum height 5 meters - resting height 0 meters = 5 meters. The amplitude of the wave is 5 meters because the object is displaced 5 meters.


Unlike wavelength, amplitude is..... The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two consecutive wave crests. The amplitude of a wave is the distance between the resting position and the crest or trough. If the distance between two crests is 7 meters, and the distance between the wave's resting position and crest is 5 meters, then the wave's wavelength is 7 meters, and it's amplitude 5 meters.


sources: http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/waves/partsOfAWave/waveParts.htm#amplitude http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/u10l2a.html#amplitude http://www.vias.org/physics/bk3_01_02.html