What does amplitude measure?

1 Answer
May 31, 2018

Amplitude measures the intensity of a wave. On a wave diagram, it is the distance "a" from the vertical middle to the crest or trough of the wave:

![www.bbc.co.ukwww.bbc.co.uk)

In terms of sound, it is how loud the sound is:

![https://physics.tutorvista.com/waves/](useruploads.socratic.orguseruploads.socratic.org)

In terms of light, it is how bright the light is:

![http://slideplayer.com/slide/8293714/](useruploads.socratic.orguseruploads.socratic.org)

In terms of electron orbital probability densities, it is the relative probability electrons are found in those radial coordinates (black is, it can be found more often):

![http://cronodon.com/Atomic/](useruploads.socratic.orguseruploads.socratic.org)