Amplitude

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of an oscillation or wave from its equilibrium level. It measures the wave’s strength and helps determine quantities such as energy and loudness.

Simple harmonic motion: Periodic motion in which displacement varies sinusoidally with time. Its equilibrium position and maximum displacement provide the basic model for defining amplitude.
Sound pressure: The local pressure variation caused by a sound wave relative to ambient pressure. Sound-wave amplitude can be expressed as the size of this pressure variation.
Wavelength: The spatial period of a wave, measured between corresponding points on successive cycles. Amplitude measures vertical displacement; wavelength measures distance along the wave.
Equilibrium position: A position at which a system experiences no net force and can remain at rest. Amplitude is measured outward from this reference position in an oscillating system.
Peak-to-peak amplitude: The distance between the highest and lowest values of an oscillating quantity. It spans twice the amplitude when oscillation is symmetric about equilibrium.
Decibel: A logarithmic unit used to express ratios of power or field quantities. Sound and signal amplitudes are often compared using decibel scales.
Frequency: The number of periodic cycles completed per unit time. A wave can change frequency without changing its amplitude.
Oscillation: Repeated variation of a quantity around a central value or equilibrium state. Amplitude describes the extent of an oscillation around its central value.
Root mean square: A measure of the effective magnitude of a varying quantity, calculated from the square root of its mean square. For a sinusoidal signal, its value is amplitude divided by the square root of two.
Amplitude modulation: A method of encoding information by varying a carrier wave’s amplitude. It uses controlled amplitude changes to carry a message.

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