* Amplitude: The amplitude of a wave is the maximum displacement of the wave from its equilibrium position.
* Wavelength: The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of the wave.
* Period: The period of a wave is the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a fixed point.
* Frequency: The frequency of a wave is the number of cycles of the wave that pass a fixed point in one second.
The relationship between these parameters is given by the following formula:
$$v = f\lambda$$
where:
* *v* is the wave speed in metres per second (m/s)
* *f* is the frequency of the wave in Hertz (Hz)
* *λ* is the wavelength of the wave in metres (m)
Periodic waves can be classified into two types:
* Sine waves: Sine waves are the simplest type of periodic wave and are characterised by their smooth, sinusoidal shape.
* Complex waves: Complex waves are made up of a combination of two or more sine waves. Complex waves can have a variety of shapes, depending on the amplitudes and frequencies of the component sine waves.
