Increasing the amplitude of a wave affects the height of the wave's peaks and the depth of its troughs, which corresponds to the distance the beads (or particles) move up and down. Specifically, amplitude is a measure of the maximum displacement of points on a wave from their rest position. Thus, higher amplitude results in a larger vertical motion of the beads.
On the other hand, frequency refers to how many waves pass a given point in a certain amount of time. It is related to the number of oscillations or cycles that occur in that time frame. Increasing the frequency means that more cycles occur in the same amount of time, but it does not directly affect the amplitude.
In summary:
- Amplitude: Increases the distance that beads move up and down.
- Frequency: Affects how many times the beads move up and down in a given period, but not the distance they move per cycle.
So, to clarify, increasing amplitude leads to greater vertical motion of the beads, while changing frequency does not influence the distance they move per oscillation.