Measure Wave Amplitude - Middle School Physical Science
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What is the relationship between wave height and amplitude?
What is the relationship between wave height and amplitude?
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Wave height $= 2A$ (so amplitude $A = \frac{\text{height}}{2}$). Height spans from crest to trough, so amplitude is half that distance.
Wave height $= 2A$ (so amplitude $A = \frac{\text{height}}{2}$). Height spans from crest to trough, so amplitude is half that distance.
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What is wave amplitude in terms of the rest (equilibrium) position?
What is wave amplitude in terms of the rest (equilibrium) position?
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Maximum displacement from the rest position. Amplitude measures how far the wave moves from its center line.
Maximum displacement from the rest position. Amplitude measures how far the wave moves from its center line.
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Which measurement equals amplitude on a transverse wave: crest-to-rest or crest-to-trough?
Which measurement equals amplitude on a transverse wave: crest-to-rest or crest-to-trough?
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Crest-to-rest distance. Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance, not the full distance.
Crest-to-rest distance. Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance, not the full distance.
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Which option is a correct unit for amplitude: meters, seconds, or hertz?
Which option is a correct unit for amplitude: meters, seconds, or hertz?
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Meters (or any length unit). Amplitude is a distance measurement, so uses length units.
Meters (or any length unit). Amplitude is a distance measurement, so uses length units.
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What is the amplitude if crest-to-trough distance is $0.40\ \text{m}$?
What is the amplitude if crest-to-trough distance is $0.40\ \text{m}$?
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$0.20\ \text{m}$. Crest-to-trough distance divided by 2 gives amplitude.
$0.20\ \text{m}$. Crest-to-trough distance divided by 2 gives amplitude.
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Identify the amplitude if a crest is at $y=+5\ \text{cm}$ and a trough is at $y=-1\ \text{cm}$.
Identify the amplitude if a crest is at $y=+5\ \text{cm}$ and a trough is at $y=-1\ \text{cm}$.
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$3\ \text{cm}$. Find midline at $y=2$, then distance to crest is $3\ \text{cm}$.
$3\ \text{cm}$. Find midline at $y=2$, then distance to crest is $3\ \text{cm}$.
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What happens to amplitude if the wave height changes from $10\ \text{cm}$ to $16\ \text{cm}$?
What happens to amplitude if the wave height changes from $10\ \text{cm}$ to $16\ \text{cm}$?
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Amplitude increases from $5\ \text{cm}$ to $8\ \text{cm}$. New amplitude is half the new wave height.
Amplitude increases from $5\ \text{cm}$ to $8\ \text{cm}$. New amplitude is half the new wave height.
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Which change increases the amplitude of a wave on a graph: taller peaks or closer peaks?
Which change increases the amplitude of a wave on a graph: taller peaks or closer peaks?
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Taller peaks (greater vertical displacement). Greater vertical displacement means larger amplitude.
Taller peaks (greater vertical displacement). Greater vertical displacement means larger amplitude.
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Which option correctly describes amplitude for a longitudinal wave (sound) on a compression diagram?
Which option correctly describes amplitude for a longitudinal wave (sound) on a compression diagram?
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Maximum density/pressure change from the normal (rest) level. In longitudinal waves, amplitude is the maximum compression or rarefaction.
Maximum density/pressure change from the normal (rest) level. In longitudinal waves, amplitude is the maximum compression or rarefaction.
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Identify the amplitude if the maximum displacement is between $y=+10\ \text{mm}$ and $y=-10\ \text{mm}$.
Identify the amplitude if the maximum displacement is between $y=+10\ \text{mm}$ and $y=-10\ \text{mm}$.
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$10\ \text{mm}$. Maximum displacement from $y=0$ is the amplitude value.
$10\ \text{mm}$. Maximum displacement from $y=0$ is the amplitude value.
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Identify the amplitude if the distance from crest to trough is $12\ \text{cm}$.
Identify the amplitude if the distance from crest to trough is $12\ \text{cm}$.
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$6\ \text{cm}$. Crest-to-trough is twice the amplitude, so divide by 2.
$6\ \text{cm}$. Crest-to-trough is twice the amplitude, so divide by 2.
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What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=-1\ \text{cm}$ and a trough is at $y=-5\ \text{cm}$?
What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=-1\ \text{cm}$ and a trough is at $y=-5\ \text{cm}$?
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$4\ \text{cm}$. Take absolute value of trough minus midline positions.
$4\ \text{cm}$. Take absolute value of trough minus midline positions.
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What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=2\ \text{cm}$ and a crest is at $y=8\ \text{cm}$?
What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=2\ \text{cm}$ and a crest is at $y=8\ \text{cm}$?
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$6\ \text{cm}$. Find the difference between crest and midline positions.
$6\ \text{cm}$. Find the difference between crest and midline positions.
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What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=0$ and a crest is at $y=+3\ \text{cm}$?
What is the amplitude if the midline is $y=0$ and a crest is at $y=+3\ \text{cm}$?
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$3\ \text{cm}$. Subtract midline position from crest position to find amplitude.
$3\ \text{cm}$. Subtract midline position from crest position to find amplitude.
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Which statement best describes amplitude on a displacement-versus-position graph?
Which statement best describes amplitude on a displacement-versus-position graph?
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Amplitude is the vertical distance from midline to a crest (or trough). On graphs, amplitude is measured vertically from center to peak.
Amplitude is the vertical distance from midline to a crest (or trough). On graphs, amplitude is measured vertically from center to peak.
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What is the amplitude if the wave height is $18\ \text{cm}$?
What is the amplitude if the wave height is $18\ \text{cm}$?
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$9\ \text{cm}$. Wave height is twice the amplitude, so divide by 2.
$9\ \text{cm}$. Wave height is twice the amplitude, so divide by 2.
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What is the amplitude if the maximum displacement is $0.25\ \text{m}$?
What is the amplitude if the maximum displacement is $0.25\ \text{m}$?
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$0.25\ \text{m}$. Maximum displacement directly equals amplitude.
$0.25\ \text{m}$. Maximum displacement directly equals amplitude.
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Identify the amplitude if a trough is $7\ \text{cm}$ below the equilibrium line.
Identify the amplitude if a trough is $7\ \text{cm}$ below the equilibrium line.
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$7\ \text{cm}$. Distance from equilibrium to trough also equals amplitude.
$7\ \text{cm}$. Distance from equilibrium to trough also equals amplitude.
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Identify the amplitude if a crest is $4\ \text{mm}$ above the equilibrium line.
Identify the amplitude if a crest is $4\ \text{mm}$ above the equilibrium line.
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$4\ \text{mm}$. Distance from equilibrium to crest equals amplitude.
$4\ \text{mm}$. Distance from equilibrium to crest equals amplitude.
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Find and correct the statement: "Amplitude is the distance from crest to trough."
Find and correct the statement: "Amplitude is the distance from crest to trough."
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Correct: Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance. The error was stating full crest-to-trough distance instead of half.
Correct: Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance. The error was stating full crest-to-trough distance instead of half.
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Find the amplitude if the midline is $0\ \text{cm}$ and a crest is at $+3\ \text{cm}$.
Find the amplitude if the midline is $0\ \text{cm}$ and a crest is at $+3\ \text{cm}$.
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$3\ \text{cm}$. Distance from midline (0) to crest (+3) is 3 cm.
$3\ \text{cm}$. Distance from midline (0) to crest (+3) is 3 cm.
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Which units should amplitude have if the wave displacement axis is labeled in meters?
Which units should amplitude have if the wave displacement axis is labeled in meters?
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Meters ($\text{m}$). Amplitude has the same units as the displacement it measures.
Meters ($\text{m}$). Amplitude has the same units as the displacement it measures.
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Find and correct the error: "Amplitude is the distance from crest to trough."
Find and correct the error: "Amplitude is the distance from crest to trough."
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Correct: Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance. The error confuses full height with amplitude.
Correct: Amplitude is half the crest-to-trough distance. The error confuses full height with amplitude.
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Which option correctly describes amplitude: midline-to-crest or crest-to-crest distance?
Which option correctly describes amplitude: midline-to-crest or crest-to-crest distance?
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Midline-to-crest distance. Crest-to-crest is wavelength, not amplitude.
Midline-to-crest distance. Crest-to-crest is wavelength, not amplitude.
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Identify the amplitude for the wave with midline $y=0$ and peaks at $y=\pm 5$.
Identify the amplitude for the wave with midline $y=0$ and peaks at $y=\pm 5$.
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$5$ (in the graph's y-units). Distance from midline (0) to peak (5) is the amplitude.
$5$ (in the graph's y-units). Distance from midline (0) to peak (5) is the amplitude.
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