What are the three characteristics needed for a sine wave?

The three essential characteristics of a sine wave are amplitude, frequency, and phase. Amplitude refers to the peak value of the wave, which indicates how far the wave oscillates from its mean value. Frequency indicates how many cycles of the wave occur in a unit of time, typically expressed in hertz (Hz). Phase represents the position of the wave in its cycle at a specific point in time, which is important when considering wave interactions.

Understanding these characteristics is crucial in various fields such as electronics, telecommunications, and signal processing, as they help in analyzing and designing systems that utilize sinusoidal signals. In contrast, period and wavelength relate to wave characteristics but are not fundamental attributes that define a sine wave in the same way amplitude, frequency, and phase do. Therefore, those options don't encapsulate the primary definition and characteristics necessary to describe a sine wave effectively.