Things You'll Need
Instructions
Write down the wave amplitude. The amplitude is the peak-to-trough vertical distance.
Write down the wavelength (period) of the wave. The wavelength of the wave is the distance between two peaks.
Write down the mathematical expression of the wave. The simplest form of a wave can be written as y = A * Cos (kx)
Where A is the amplitude of the wave. k= 2*pi / wavelength. For a wavelength of 2 meters, and an amplitude of 5, the wave equation becomes y= 5 * Cos (3.14x).
Substitute some values for x into the wave equation in order to generate some points for the graph. Following the example:
y= 5 * Cos (3.14x)
y= 5 * Cos (3.14*1) = -5 Coordinates are (3.14, -5 )
y= 5 * Cos (3.14*2) = +5 Coordinates are (6.28, +5)
y= 5 * Cos (3.14*3) = -5 Coordinates are (9.42, -5)
Draw the graph axes and label the x-axis "x." Label the y-axis "y= 5 * Cos (3.14x)." Plot the points on the graph, marking each point with a cross. The graph should have a wave-like oscillatory dependence.