What effect does damping have on a wave?

Damping refers to the effect that reduces the amplitude of a wave over time. When damping occurs, energy is lost due to factors such as friction or resistance, which slows down the movement of the wave. This leads to a gradual decrease in the wave's amplitude, meaning that the height of the wave diminishes as it travels.

In particular, in mechanical systems, damping causes oscillations to become less pronounced, often leading to a wave that eventually stops, as the energy dissipates. This is a fundamental concept in wave mechanics and is critical for understanding how real-world waves behave as they propagate through a medium.

The other aspects listed in the choices do not accurately reflect the effect of damping; instead, they pertain to different phenomena. For instance, frequency and speed are characteristics that relate to the properties of the source or medium and are affected in different ways than amplitude alone.