Amplitude: The Height That Determines Energy

Amplitude is the maximum height of a wave measured from its rest position.
It shows how much energy the wave is carrying—the bigger the amplitude, the more powerful the wave.
In ocean waves, high amplitude means stronger waves that crash with more force.
For sound waves, greater amplitude makes the sound louder.
In light waves, higher amplitude makes the light appear brighter.
Amplitude is always measured from the rest position to the crest (or trough), not crest to trough.
Two waves can have the same wavelength and frequency but very different amplitudes.
Doubling the amplitude quadruples the wave’s energy—small increases make a big impact.
Earthquake strength is measured partly by the amplitude of seismic waves.
From music speakers to earthquakes, amplitude is the energy dial that controls wave intensity.