Which term is used to refer to the distance between two crests or two troughs in a sine wave?

The term that describes the distance between two crests or two troughs in a sine wave is known as wavelength. Wavelength is a fundamental characteristic of waves, and it represents the physical length of one complete cycle of the wave. In the context of a sine wave, the crest is the highest point, and the trough is the lowest point. The distance between consecutive crests (or troughs) provides essential information about how often the wave repeats itself over a given distance, which is crucial in various fields, including physics and engineering. Understanding wavelength helps in analyzing wave behaviors, such as sound, light, and radio waves.

Other terms, such as frequency, amplitude, and oscillation, refer to different properties of waves. Frequency indicates how many cycles occur in a given time period, amplitude measures the height of the wave from the center to a crest or trough, and oscillation refers to the repetition of the wave motion but does not pertain to the specific distance between the crests or troughs. Thus, the term wavelength is the correct designation for the distance between those points in a sine wave.