In a sinusoidal wave, the terms "amplitude" and "phase" refer to different aspects of the wave:
Amplitude: The amplitude of a sinusoidal wave represents the maximum displacement or magnitude of the wave from its equilibrium position. It indicates the strength or intensity of the wave. In other words, it measures the extent to which the wave deviates from its baseline or zero position. For example, in a graphical representation of a sine wave, the amplitude is the distance from the baseline to the peak or trough of the wave.
Phase: The phase of a sinusoidal wave refers to the position of the wave in its cycle or its relationship to a reference point in time. It indicates how far the wave is shifted in terms of time or angle compared to a standard or reference waveform. The phase is usually measured in radians or degrees. A complete cycle of a sinusoidal wave corresponds to a phase difference of 2π radians or 360 degrees.
Mathematically, a sinusoidal wave can be expressed as:
y = A * sin(ωt + φ)
In this equation, A represents the amplitude, ω represents the angular frequency, t represents time, and φ represents the phase. The phase term (ωt + φ) determines the position of the wave within its cycle at any given time. The phase can be adjusted to shift the wave forward or backward in time or to align it with other waveforms.
To summarize, the amplitude of a sinusoidal wave measures its magnitude or strength, while the phase determines its position in time or angle within its cycle.