Which term describes the distance from one peak to the next in a wave?

The term that describes the distance from one peak to the next in a wave is wavelength. Wavelength is a fundamental characteristic of waves, representing the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. In the context of a transverse wave, such as a wave on a string or light wave, the wavelength is measured from one crest (peak) to the next crest, or from one trough to the next trough.

Understanding wavelength is essential because it relates to various properties of waves, including how they interact with each other and how different types of waves (like sound or light) are characterized. The longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency, and conversely, a shorter wavelength corresponds to a higher frequency.

Frequency refers to how many cycles of the wave occur in a unit of time, amplitude is the height of the wave from its rest position to its peak, and period is the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a point. While these terms also describe important aspects of waves, they do not specifically measure the distance between peaks. Thus, wavelength is the precise term that defines this measurement.