What is Amplitude?
[[File:Wave.png|thumb|350px|In this picture, ''y'' is the amplitude of the wave]] [[File:Sinus amplitude en.svg|thumb|350px|Different kinds of amplitudes]] The '''amplitude''' or '''peak amplitude''' of a [[wave]] is a measure of how big its [[oscillation]] is. Amplitudes are always measured as [[positive numbers]] (for example: 3.5, 1, 120) and are never [[negative number|negative]] (for example: -3.5, -1, -120). That's because distance can only be greater than zero or equal to zero; negative distance does not exist. The distance from the top of one peak to the bottom of another is called ''peak-to-peak amplitude''. Another way to describe peak-to-peak amplitude is to say that it is the distance between the maximum positive value and the maximum negative value of a wave is the maximum displacement of a wave from an equilibrium position ==Related pages== {{wiktionary}} * [[Wave]]s and their properties: ** [[Frequency]] ** [[Period (physics)|Period]] ** [[Wavelength]] * [[Amplitude modulation]] * [[Oscilloscope]] * [[Vibration control]] * [[Vibration isolation]] {{physics-stub}} [[Category:Wave physics]] [[Category:Mechanical vibrations]]