Structure of a Wave
Waves describe a phenomenon in light, sound, and radio whereby the individual components only cycle up and down, but the wave itself actually travels forward through the material as it propagates from Point A to Point B. For example, when you go to a baseball game and somebody starts “The Wave,” each stationary person stands up and down, but the wave travels around the baseball field.
The most basic of waves, a sine wave, is defined by the equation y = Sin(x). Using this equation we'll plot the wave in Figure A.1.
Figure A.1. Sine wave.
Let's explore each characteristic of the wave:
Crest: The highest point in the wave.
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