What describes the distance of one complete cycle in a wave?

The term that describes the distance of one complete cycle in a wave is wavelength. Wavelength is defined as the distance between two consecutive points that are in phase on a wave, typically measured from crest to crest or trough to trough. It gives a vital understanding of the wave's properties and behavior in different mediums.

In the context of sound waves, for example, wavelength plays a key role in determining how we perceive pitch; shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies, while longer wavelengths correlate with lower frequencies.

Amplitude refers to the height of the wave, which relates to the energy or intensity of the wave, but does not give any information about the distance of one complete cycle. Frequency is the number of cycles that occur in a certain amount of time, typically measured in hertz, but it also does not indicate the distance of a cycle. Intensity measures the power carried by the wave per unit area but is unrelated to the physical distance of a wave cycle.

Understanding wavelength is essential for analyzing how waves propagate and interact with different environments, making it a fundamental concept in both physics and various applications in sonography.