Question

One way to describe a wave crest is the amount of ___________ applied over an area.

Answer 1

A crest is the highest point a particle in the medium rises to and a trough is the lowest point a particle in the medium sinks to. The amplitude (A) is the maximum distance from equilibrium position to a crest (or trough), or the maximum displacement of a particle in a wave from its position of rest.

Step-by-step explanation:

A crest is the highest point a particle in the medium rises to. A trough is the lowest point a particle in the medium sinks to. In a transverse wave, the particles move perpendicular to the motion of the wave. The amplitude (A) is the maximum distance from equilibrium position to a crest (or trough), or the maximum displacement of a particle in a wave from its position of rest.

Answer 2

Force

Step-by-step explanation:

Crests are the high points of a transverse wave. The amplitude is the measure of the size of the disturbance from a wave (half the distance from the trough and crest) or (depending on the compression coils). The wavelength is the the distance between one point on a wave and the nearest point just like it.

Here they don't talk about mass, notice they are mostly talking about force and pressure.