Which term refers to the maximum height of a wave from its rest position?

The maximum height of a wave from its rest position is referred to as amplitude. This term is crucial in wave physics as it quantifies the extent of displacement of points from their normal rest positions in oscillating systems, such as waves. When you visualize a wave, the amplitude represents how high the peaks (or how low the troughs) rise or fall from the center line of the wave.

Understanding amplitude is essential as it also relates to the energy carried by the wave – greater amplitude generally means more energy. For instance, in sound waves, a higher amplitude corresponds to louder sounds, while in water waves, it correlates with larger waves.

Other terms such as wavelength refer to the distance between successive crests (or troughs) of a wave, frequency relates to the number of cycles that occur in a unit of time, and speed describes how fast the wave propagates through a medium. Each of these properties contributes to the overall behavior and characteristics of waves but do not define the maximum height from the rest position, which is specifically characterized by amplitude.