What is the distance between consecutive crests of a wave at a given instant?

What is the distance between consecutive crests of a wave at a given instant?

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

Answer: (A)

The distance between consecutive crests is the wavelength—the spatial length over which the wave pattern repeats. It’s a spatial property, so it’s measured along the direction the wave travels, in units like meters. The relationship v = fλ ties speed, frequency, and this spacing together, so if you know two of them you can find the third. Period is about time between crests at a single point, and frequency is how many crests pass a point per second, while amplitude is how tall the wave is. Since the question asks for the spacing of crests in space, wavelength is the best match.

The distance between consecutive crests is the wavelength—the spatial length over which the wave pattern repeats. It’s a spatial property, so it’s measured along the direction the wave travels, in units like meters. The relationship v = fλ ties speed, frequency, and this spacing together, so if you know two of them you can find the third.

Period is about time between crests at a single point, and frequency is how many crests pass a point per second, while amplitude is how tall the wave is. Since the question asks for the spacing of crests in space, wavelength is the best match.