Parts of a Wave
Waves are described by:
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their length (wavelength) - This is the distance from one peak, or crest, to the next. This is the same as the distance from one dip, or trough, to the next. The Greek letter λ (lambda) is used for the wavelength of a wave.
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their height or depth (amplitude) - The amplitude is equal to the height of the crest of the wave above the rest position. This is the same as the depth of a trough of a wave below the rest position. The volume of sound, the energy in a water wave, and the brightness of light all depend upon the amplitude of the wave. The amount of energy in a wave is proportional to its amplitude. The larger the amplitude, the more energy it carries, and the more dangerous it can be.
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the number of waves you can count in a given amount of time (frequency) - Frequency describes the number of waves that pass a fixed place in a given amount of time. So if the time it takes for a wave to pass is is 1/2 second, the frequency is 2 per second. If it takes 1/100 of an hour, the frequency is 100 per hour.