Wave amplitude formula_4 described by the equation: where The units of the amplitude depend on the type of wave. Transverse mechanical waves (e.g., a wave on a string) have an amplitude expressed as a distance (e.g., meters), longitudinal mechanical waves (e.g., sound waves) use units of pressure (e.g., pascals), and electromagnetic waves (a form of transverse vacuum wave) express the amplitude in terms of its electric field (e.g., volts/meter). The wavelength formula_30 is the distance between two sequential crests or troughs (or other equivalent points), generally is measured in meters. A wavenumber formula_17, the spatial frequency of the wave in radians
Acoustic wave wave becomes a travelling wave moving rightwards, for formula_14 the wave becomes a travelling wave moving leftwards. A standing wave can be obtained by formula_15. In a travelling wave pressure and particle velocity are in phase, which means the phase angle between the two quantities is zero. This can be easily proven using the ideal gas law where Consider a volume formula_18. As an acoustic wave propagates through the volume, adiabatic compression and decompression occurs. For adiabatic change the following relation between volume formula_18 of a parcel of fluid and pressure formula_2 holds where As a sound wave propagates through