What is the term used to describe the distance between waves?

The term that describes the distance between successive waves is called wavelength. Wavelength is defined as the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough. It is a fundamental property of waves, whether they are sound waves, light waves, or any other form of electromagnetic radiation.

Understanding wavelength is crucial as it directly influences various wave characteristics, such as frequency and energy. Generally, shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies and higher energy, while longer wavelengths correspond to lower frequencies and lower energy.

In contrast, frequency refers to the number of wave cycles that occur in a given time period, amplitude relates to the height of the wave, indicating its intensity or energy, and crest refers to the highest point of the wave. Each of these terms describes different aspects of a wave, but only wavelength specifically denotes the distance between consecutive waves.