(Definition of âhowdyâ from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary Â© Cambridge University Press)
A wave is an up and down movement of water. When we talk about waves, we use special words to name their parts. The highest point of a wave is called the crest. The lowest point is called the trough. Wave height is the vertical distance between the crest and trough. Wavelength is the horizontal distance between waves in a series. Wavelength can be measured between two wave crests. It can be measured between two wave troughs.
The following illustration shows a cross-section through a transverse wave *. Switches below the main window can be used to label the following features: Crest - the highest point in the wave. Trough - the lowest point in the wave. Wavelength * - the horizontal distance between successive crests, troughs or other parts of a wave. Wave height - the vertical distance between the crest of a wave and its neighboring trough. This term is commonly used when describing water waves where the undisturbed surface is not easily determined.