Amplitude is measured as crest to rest or trough to rest.

Study for the Georgia High School Physical Science Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations included. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Amplitude is measured as crest to rest or trough to rest.

Explanation:
Amplitude is the maximum distance the vibrating object moves from its equilibrium position. In a wave, the rest position is the equilibrium line, and the crest sits above it by the amplitude while the trough sits below it by the same amount. Therefore the amplitude can be measured as the distance from rest to the crest or from rest to the trough, and these two measurements have the same magnitude. Distances like crest-to-crest represent the wavelength, and crest-to-trough spans the full height from top to bottom, which is twice the amplitude. So describing amplitude as crest to rest or trough to rest is correct.

Amplitude is the maximum distance the vibrating object moves from its equilibrium position. In a wave, the rest position is the equilibrium line, and the crest sits above it by the amplitude while the trough sits below it by the same amount. Therefore the amplitude can be measured as the distance from rest to the crest or from rest to the trough, and these two measurements have the same magnitude. Distances like crest-to-crest represent the wavelength, and crest-to-trough spans the full height from top to bottom, which is twice the amplitude. So describing amplitude as crest to rest or trough to rest is correct.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy