Coast Guard Exams
Question 793Navigation General70% to pass

The height of a wave is the vertical distance _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is B) from crest to trough. The height of a wave is defined as the vertical distance between the crest (highest point) and the trough (lowest point) of the wave. This is the standard definition used in the US Coast Guard Captain's License Examinations. The other options are incorrect because: A) refers to the wave amplitude, which is half the wave height; C) describes a specific wave characteristic not related to overall wave height; and D) only measures the height from the still water plane to the crest, not the full vertical distance of the wave.

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