What term describes the distance between successive crests of a wave?

What term describes the distance between successive crests of a wave?

• A. Frequency
• B. Wavelength
• C. Amplitude
• D. Period

Answer: (B)

The distance between successive crests of a wave is the wavelength. It measures how long one complete wave cycle is in space, typically in meters. This is a spatial property, not a time one. In contrast, the period is the time between crests passing a point, and the frequency is how many crests pass a point each second. Amplitude describes how tall the crest is from the rest position. Often you’ll see the wave speed related by the equation speed = frequency × wavelength, tying these ideas together.

The distance between successive crests of a wave is the wavelength. It measures how long one complete wave cycle is in space, typically in meters. This is a spatial property, not a time one. In contrast, the period is the time between crests passing a point, and the frequency is how many crests pass a point each second. Amplitude describes how tall the crest is from the rest position. Often you’ll see the wave speed related by the equation speed = frequency × wavelength, tying these ideas together.