# Will changing amplitude change the frequency? [closed]

Will changing the amplitude change the frequency of a wave, or is it possible for a specific frequency (50 Hz. for example) to generate from shifting amplitude patterns?

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## closed as unclear what you're asking by Qmechanic♦Mar 23 '14 at 21:42

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It may change the wavelength though . Consider transmission of a wave on a lighter string to a heavier and more stiff one . – user23503 May 8 '13 at 19:06
If the amount of power driving the wave is fixed, then yes, increasing the amplitude would certainly lower the frequency. – Ataraxia May 8 '13 at 19:22

It's completely possible to change the amplitude (the difference between the maximun value of the wave and the minimun) without changing the frecuency.

Think this in AC, where you can have signals with different voltage but the same frecuency.

To illustrate it I'll show you this for a harmonic wave: $$x(t)=Acos(\omega t+\phi)$$ You can vary the amplitude (for example, adding another wave of the same frecuency and phase) and the resulting wave will be just: $$x'(t)=A'cos(\omega t+\phi)$$

Note that if we add two waves, in general, the new frecuency does not need to be the same.

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Do not forget the this applies for waves generally. But electromagnetic waves, for example, are special case where amplitude and frequency are bound together. – Tomáš Zato May 8 '13 at 22:42
@TomášZato How are amplitude, i.e. intensity, and frequency tied together in EM waves? Wavelength and frequency are correlated through the speed of light, but the amplitude has nothing to do with this. – Neuneck Mar 23 '14 at 21:09

## protected by Qmechanic♦Mar 23 '14 at 21:39

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