1.Previous
3.Next

and are arbitrary constants representing time and displacement offsets respectively.

Units

The units of the amplitude depend on the type of wave, but are always in the same units as the oscillating variable. A more general representation of the wave equation is more complex, but the role of amplitude remains analogous to this simple case.

For waves on a string, or in a medium such as water, the amplitude is a displacement.

1.Previous
3.Next