The time between two successive wave crests passing a fixed point is called what?

The time between two successive wave crests passing a fixed point is called what?

• A. Frequency
• B. Wavelength
• C. Wave period
• D. Amplitude

Answer: (C)

The main concept here is the period of a wave — the time that elapses between two successive crests passing a fixed point. This interval is measured in seconds and tells you how long it takes for the wave to repeat once. Frequency, on the other hand, is how many crests pass per second, so they’re connected by f = 1/T. Wavelength is the distance between crests, not a measure of time, and amplitude is the height of the crest, not its timing. If the period is longer, fewer crests pass each second, which means a lower frequency; a shorter period means a higher frequency. You can also relate period to speed via v = fλ, so λ = vT. For example, a wave traveling at 300 m/s with a period of 2 s has a wavelength of 600 m.

The main concept here is the period of a wave — the time that elapses between two successive crests passing a fixed point. This interval is measured in seconds and tells you how long it takes for the wave to repeat once. Frequency, on the other hand, is how many crests pass per second, so they’re connected by f = 1/T. Wavelength is the distance between crests, not a measure of time, and amplitude is the height of the crest, not its timing. If the period is longer, fewer crests pass each second, which means a lower frequency; a shorter period means a higher frequency. You can also relate period to speed via v = fλ, so λ = vT. For example, a wave traveling at 300 m/s with a period of 2 s has a wavelength of 600 m.