Which wave property relates to the height of the wave from trough to crest?

Which wave property relates to the height of the wave from trough to crest?

• A. Amplitude
• B. Wavelength
• C. Frequency
• D. Velocity

Answer: (A)

The height of a wave is determined by how far the medium is displaced from its resting position, which is the amplitude. In a transverse wave, the crest reaches the maximum positive displacement and the trough the maximum negative displacement, so the distance from trough to crest is twice the amplitude. The other properties describe how far apart crests are (wavelength), how often the wave repeats (frequency), or how fast the wave travels (velocity), none of which directly measure the wave’s height.

The height of a wave is determined by how far the medium is displaced from its resting position, which is the amplitude. In a transverse wave, the crest reaches the maximum positive displacement and the trough the maximum negative displacement, so the distance from trough to crest is twice the amplitude. The other properties describe how far apart crests are (wavelength), how often the wave repeats (frequency), or how fast the wave travels (velocity), none of which directly measure the wave’s height.