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Crest (physics)

 
Crest (physics)

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Crest (physics)



 
 
A crest is the point on a wave
Wave

A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space and time, usually with transference of energy. While a mechanical wave exists in a medium , waves of electromagnetic radiation can travel through vacuum, that is, without a medium....
 with the greatest positive value or upward displacement in a cycle
Cycle

Cycle or Cyclic may refer to:* Motorcycle* Bicycle* Cycling, the act of riding a bicycle or tricycle* Tricycle...
. A trough is the opposite of a crest.

When the crests and troughs of two waves of equal magnitude and frequency intersect or collide when in phase
Phase (waves)

The phase of an oscillation or wave is the fraction of a complete cycle corresponding to an offset in the displacement from a specified reference point at time t = 0....
 with each other the result is called constructive interference and the magnitudes double (above and below the line).






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Encyclopedia


A crest is the point on a wave
Wave

A wave is a disturbance that propagates through space and time, usually with transference of energy. While a mechanical wave exists in a medium , waves of electromagnetic radiation can travel through vacuum, that is, without a medium....
 with the greatest positive value or upward displacement in a cycle
Cycle

Cycle or Cyclic may refer to:* Motorcycle* Bicycle* Cycling, the act of riding a bicycle or tricycle* Tricycle...
. A trough is the opposite of a crest.

When the crests and troughs of two waves of equal magnitude and frequency intersect or collide when in phase
Phase (waves)

The phase of an oscillation or wave is the fraction of a complete cycle corresponding to an offset in the displacement from a specified reference point at time t = 0....
 with each other the result is called constructive interference and the magnitudes double (above and below the line). When 180° out of phase the result is destructive interference: the resulting wave is the undisturbed line having zero amplitude
Amplitude

Amplitude is the magnitude of change in the oscillating variable, with each oscillation, within an oscillating system. For instance, sound waves are oscillations in atmospheric pressure and their amplitudes are proportional to the change in pressure during one oscillation....
.

See also

  • Ocean surface wave
    Ocean surface wave

    In fluid dynamics wind waves, or more precisely wind generated waves, are surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and canals ? or even on small puddles and ponds....
  • Superposition principle
    Superposition principle

    In physics and systems theory, the superposition principle, also known as superposition property, states that, for all linear systems,So that if input A produces response X and input B produces response Y then input produces response ....