How does the amplitude of a wave affect its energy?

The amplitude of a wave is a measure of how far the particles of the medium move from their rest position when a wave passes through. In the context of waves, amplitude directly relates to the energy carried by that wave; specifically, higher amplitude indicates that the wave has more energy.

When the amplitude increases, the maximum displacement of particles in the medium also increases, meaning that they are oscillating with greater energy. This is why waves with higher amplitudes can carry more energy; for instance, in sound waves, a louder sound has a greater amplitude and therefore more energy. Similarly, in mechanical waves, larger amplitudes correspond to more vigorous oscillations, which also translate to more energy transferred through the medium.

In contrast, options suggesting that higher amplitudes result in lower energy or that amplitude is unrelated to energy do not accurately reflect the relationship between these properties. Understanding this relationship is essential in various contexts, such as sound, light, and other wave phenomena observed in physics.