What term refers to the spacing between successive crests in a wave?

Wavelength is defined as the distance between successive crests (or troughs) of a wave. It is a fundamental characteristic of waves, indicating how long the wave is and affects its energy and propagation speed. The concept of wavelength is crucial in understanding various types of waves, including sound and light waves.

When you consider wavelength, it's important to visualize it in the context of wave behavior. A longer wavelength typically corresponds to lower energy, while a shorter wavelength indicates higher energy. This relationship is evident in the electromagnetic spectrum, where different wavelengths represent different forms of electromagnetic radiation.

While frequency pertains to how often a wave oscillates per second, and amplitude relates to the wave's height or intensity, wavelength focuses solely on the physical distance in space between repeating points in the wave. The term "wave cycle" refers to a complete wave form from crest to crest or trough to trough, which encompasses the concept of wavelength but does not specifically describe the distance. Thus, wavelength is the precise term that describes the spacing between consecutive crests of a wave.