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Sine Wave

Definition

A sine wave is a smooth periodic oscillation that describes a smooth repetitive fluctuation. It’s named after the function sine, which it closely resembles.

Analogy

Picture yourself riding on a Ferris wheel at constant speed. If someone on the ground tracks your height as you go around, they'd draw a sine wave.

Related terms

Cosine Wave: A type of wave that is shifted by 90 degrees from a sine wave.

Phase Shift: The shift in position of a periodic waveform with respect to time.

Wavelength: The distance between one peak or crest of a wave and the next peak or crest. It's like the size of one full loop on the Ferris wheel ride.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.