Question

What is the top of a wave called?

Answer 1

Hint: A wave or a wind-generated wave is a surface wave that forms on the surface bodies of water. It is formed from the wind blowing over the water bodies. They can travel thousands of kilometres and can range in size from small ripples to over 40m.

Complete answer:
Waves are most commonly caused by winds that is why they are called wind-driven or surface waves. Waves transmit energy across the ocean and if not blocked by anything, give them the capability to travel across an entire basin. The continual distribution created by the wind blowing over the water surface creates the top of a wave called the crest. It is the distance between the top part of the wave and the ground level. A trough is the opposite of the crest, i.e the lowest part of the wave below the ground level or axis.

The crest is known to be the maximum upward displacement a wave can achieve. Wave height is the difference between the crest and trough and the distance between two successive crests or troughs is the wavelength. The time interval between the arrival of two consecutive crests at a stationary point is known as the wave period. If the crest is too high then the wave is called a tsunami. These crash on the shore and reach far distances inland causing massive damage to human resources.

Therefore the highest part or the top of the wave is called ‘Crest’.

Note: Usually a wave is taken to be an up and down motion but in reality, it is a circular motion or more precisely trochoidal motion meaning the line formed by a point on a rolling wheel. The top of this circle/orbit formed by this motion is called the crest.