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Wave properties

Review your understanding of wave properties in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.

Key points:

  • A wave is a repeating disturbance that travels through matter or space transferring only energy.
  • Below is a model of a wave.
  • A wave’s crest is its highest point, and its trough is its lowest point.
  • A wave’s amplitude is the maximum distance (positive or negative) a wave reaches from its rest position.
  • Wavelength is the distance between the same spot on two sections of a wave.
  • A wave’s frequency can be measured by how many crests (or how many troughs) pass a location in a certain amount of time.
  • A wave with a larger frequency has more energy. If a wave’s frequency doubles, its energy also doubles.
  • A wave’s energy is proportional to the square of its amplitude. So, if a wave’s amplitude doubles, its energy increases by four times, because 22=4.

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