amplitude
0 antonyms and opposites of amplitude, grouped by meaning.
Noun — In physics, the greatest distance a wave or vibrating object moves from its resting position, which for sound corresponds to loudness and for light to brightness.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun technical
In physics, the greatest distance a wave or vibrating object moves from its resting position, which for sound corresponds to loudness and for light to brightness.
“Doubling the amplitude of the sound wave makes the note much louder.”
How to Use Amplitude
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Standard scientific vocabulary; the 'extent' sense is literary and formal.
Etymology
From Latin amplitudo, from amplus 'large'.
Full origin of amplitude →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between amplitude and frequency?
Amplitude measures how far a wave moves from its rest position, which for sound means how loud it is. Frequency measures how many wave cycles pass a point each second, which for sound means how high or low the pitch is. A wave can be loud and low, or quiet and high, because the two are independent.
What is the difference between amplitude and wavelength?
Amplitude is measured vertically, from the centre line of the wave to a peak, while wavelength is measured horizontally, from one peak to the next. Amplitude describes strength; wavelength describes size along the direction of travel.
How is amplitude measured?
It is measured in whatever unit describes the displacement of the thing that is oscillating: metres for a pendulum, pascals of pressure for sound, and volts for an electrical signal.