Final answer:
The amount of energy in a wave is known as its intensity, and this is determined by its amplitude. The energy is directly proportional to the amplitude squared, which also influences properties such as the brightness of light or loudness of sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of energy in a wave is called its intensity. Amplitude is most crucial in determining a wave's intensity. The amplitude, or the height of a wave, is defined as half the peak-to-trough height. The energy of the wave is proportional to the amplitude squared (E² or B²). For various types of waves — whether on guitar strings, in water, in sound, or electromagnetic waves — the amplitude is a measure of maximum energy possibly structural, pressure, or field strength. Intensity, in the context of waves, is the power per unit area and has units of watts per square meter (W/m²).
To relate this to everyday phenomena, in light waves, increased amplitude translates to increased brightness, and in sound waves, it indicates increased loudness. Note that wave speed (v) is equal to the product of its frequency and wavelength, but it does not determine the energy on its own without considering amplitude.