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sine wave
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mathematical curve that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation; continuous wave
A sine wave is a smooth, continuously repeating curve that oscillates up and down in a regular pattern. It's important because this same wave pattern appears throughout nature and technology—from sound waves and light to electrical current—making it fundamental to understanding how many physical systems work.
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Tracing the y component of a circle while going around the circle results in a sine wave (red). Tracing the x component results in a cosine wave (blue). Both waves are sinusoids of the same frequency but different phases.
A sine wave, sinusoidal wave, or sinusoid (symbol: ∿) is a periodic wave whose waveform (shape) is the trigonometric sine function. In mechanics, as a linear motion over time, this is simple harmonic motion; as rotation, it corresponds to uniform circular motion. Sine waves occur often in physics, including wind waves, sound waves, and light waves, such as monochromatic radiation. In engineering, signal processing, and mathematics, Fourier analysis decomposes general functions into a sum of sine waves of various frequencies, relative phases, and magnitudes.