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# Long description

This shows 2 waves in cross-section. The upper diagram shows one cycle of a sinusoidal wave (same shape as a sine curve), from a trough to the curved peak to the next trough. The distance between the troughs is L and vertical distance from trough to peak is H. A horizontal line passes halfway between the 2 peaks. The graph label is ‘sinusoidal form, lower wave heights’.

The lower diagram has a different shape. From the trough on the left, the wave has a steady height for about one third of L, then rises diagonally upwards to a pointed peak, then falls to a second trough on the right by sloping down and being flat. H is the distance from trough to peak again and the horizontal line is only a small distance above the troughs. The label is ‘peaked form, higher wave heights’.