It is the change between peak (highest amplitude value) and trough (lowest amplitude value, which can be negative).
LINK / CITE ADD TO WORD LIST. noun. The definition of amplitude refers to the length and width of waves, such as sound waves, as they move or vibrate. How much a radio wave moves back and forth is an example of its amplitude. amplitude-Computer Definition. The extreme range, or magnitude, of a fluctuating value such as an acoustic or electromagnetic signal, amplitude is measured perpendicular to the to the time axis of a time-plot, i.e., frequency, of a sine wave. Regardless of the kind, every wave has an amplitude. Amplitude is the maximum displacement of points on a wave, which you can think of as the degree or intensity of change. This maximum displacement is measured from the equilibrium position. The picture below shows a diagram of a sine wave. Amplitude is an important parameter of waves and is the maximum displacement of points on a wave. Stated another way, amplitude is the vertical distance between a peak or a valley and the equilibrium point. Frequency is the number of wave cycles passing a point per unit time. The amplitude of a periodic variable is a measure of its change over a single period (such as time or spatial period). There are various definitions of amplitude (see below), which are all functions of the magnitude of the difference between the variable's extreme values. Peak-to-peak amplitude is the change between peak (highest amplitude value) and trough (lowest amplitude value, which can be negative). With appropriate circuitry, peak-to-peak amplitudes of electric oscillations can be measured by meters or by viewing the waveform on an oscilloscope The wavelength of a wave is the distance between a point on one wave and the same point on the next wave. It is often easiest to measure this from the crest of one wave to the crest of the next wave, but it doesn't matter where as long as it is the same point in each wave.  Amplitude and period are important in the study of music and acoustics; amplitude indicates the energy, or loudness, of a sound and the period determines its pitch (pitch, or frequency, is the inverse of the period). Amplitude is the height from the mean, or rest, value of the function to its maximum or minimum. The period is the distance required for the function to complete one full cycle. For the sine function, the amplitude is given by and the period is defined as. The same is true for a cosine function Amplitude (noun). of extent of capacity or intellectual powers. Amplitude (noun). of extent of means or resources. Amplitude (noun). the arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive.  Amplitude is the objective measurement of the degree of change (positive or negative) in atmospheric pressure (the compression and rarefaction of air molecules) caused by sound waves. Sounds with greater amplitude will produce greater changes in atmospheric pressure from high pressure to low pressure.  Report Abuse. In physics, amplitude is the maximum displacement of a periodic wave. It is also the height of a wave and is used to describe the instanteous value of a varying waveform. In sound, it is strength of a vibrating wave.  In astronomy, amplitude of a light's wave is important because it tells you about the intensity or brightness of the light relative to other light waves of the same wavelength. It's a measure of how much energy the wave carries. The Amplitude is 1. Select the definition below that you think best fits the amplitudes shown above and click here if you want to know whether you've got the one scientists use! 1  a measurement from the lowest point that the wave hits to the highest point the wave hits.
http://www.yourdictionary.com/amplitude http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-amplitude-definition-frequency-quiz.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplitude http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/radiation/anintroductiontowavesrev2.shtml http://www.chegg.com/homework-help/definitions/amplitude-and-period-65 http://www.definitions.net/definition/Amplitude http://www.indiana.edu/~emusic/acoustics/amplitude.htm https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080913224934AAoWCBM http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/light/measure_amp.html
what does amplitude mean