Compare amplitude without changing frequency
See this course’s project requirements
A wave model comparison with period/frequency calculations, reflection and refraction diagrams and an explanation of a fictional communication failure.
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What to include
- Separate traveling patterns from local material motion.
- Calculate period and frequency from complete cycles.
- Compare amplitude under stated fixed conditions.
- Compute sound wavelength and explain medium requirements.
- Draw reflection and qualitative refraction using normals.
- Explain the chamber signal failure and complete all changed cases.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Method: applies the course-specific rules to the supplied cases with visible intermediate work.
- Accuracy: results agree with the stated facts, units, boundaries and independent checks.
- Reasoning: explains why the result follows and identifies a limitation or unresolved question.
- Transfer: completes changed cases and revises the final project when a relevant assumption changes.
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The idea in everyday life
Supplied idealized wave A oscillates from−2 cm to+2 cm about zero; wave B from−4 cm to+4 cm. Both have frequency 2 Hz in the same medium under identical comparison conditions. Peak-to-peak height is not amplitude.
Amplitude is maximum displacement from the equilibrium position in the supplied mechanical model. For otherwise identical sinusoidal waves in the same medium, energy transfer increases with amplitude; doubling amplitude corresponds to four times the modeled energy transfer. This comparison holds other conditions fixed and is not a rule that all louder sounds are safe.
Compare amplitude without changing frequency — worked practice
Amplitude is maximum displacement from the equilibrium position in the supplied mechanical model. For otherwise identical sinusoidal waves in the same medium, energy transfer increases with amplitude; doubling amplitude corresponds to four times the modeled energy transfer. This comparison holds other conditions fixed and is not a rule that all louder sounds are safe.
Supplied idealized wave A oscillates from−2 cm to+2 cm about zero; wave B from−4 cm to+4 cm. Both have frequency 2 Hz in the same medium under identical comparison conditions. Peak-to-peak height is not amplitude.
1. 1. Measure
Find maximum displacement from equilibrium for each.
You should see: A amplitude 2 cm; B amplitude 4 cm.
2. 2. Contrast
Calculate peak-to-peak ranges separately.
You should see: A4 cm; B8 cm.
3. 3. Compare
Apply the stated amplitude-squared comparison.
You should see: B has twice the amplitude and four times the modeled energy transfer.
4. 4. Preserve
Identify what did not change.
You should see: Both frequencies remain 2 Hz; increased amplitude alone does not imply more cycles per second.
What to finish
An amplitude/peak-range comparison with unchanged frequencies and conditions.
Watch for this
Amplitude and frequency describe different features. The case explicitly holds frequency fixed, so the larger displacement does not change cycle count per second.
How can I tell I understand it?
Measure a changed amplitude without doubling it or assigning a new frequency.
Quick knowledge check
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