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This lesson covers the four key properties used to describe any wave — amplitude, frequency, wavelength and period — as required by AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464), Physics Paper 2, section 6.1. You must be able to define each property, identify it on a wave diagram, and use the relationship between frequency and period.
| Property | Symbol | Unit | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | A | metres (m) | Maximum displacement of a point on the wave from its undisturbed (equilibrium) position |
| Wavelength | λ (lambda) | metres (m) | Distance between two consecutive points in phase (e.g. crest to crest or compression to compression) |
| Frequency | f | hertz (Hz) | Number of complete waves passing a point per second |
| Period | T | seconds (s) | Time taken for one complete wave to pass a point |
The amplitude is the maximum displacement from the rest (equilibrium) position.
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