What factor does NOT affect the speed of a wave?

The speed of a wave is influenced by the characteristics of the medium it travels through, as well as its frequency and wavelength. However, the amplitude of the wave does not affect its speed.

The amplitude refers to the height of the wave from its rest position, which is related to the energy or intensity of the wave rather than its speed. For instance, whether a wave has a high amplitude (which conveys more energy) or a low amplitude does not change how fast the wave propagates through a medium.

In contrast, the medium determines how quickly the wave can move through it, with denser media often allowing sound waves to travel faster. The frequency and wavelength are related through the equation ( v = f \lambda ) (where ( v ) is the wave speed, ( f ) is the frequency, and ( \lambda ) is the wavelength); hence, altering either can change the wave speed if the other remains constant.