A wave is a disturbance or oscillation that propagates through a medium or space, transferring energy without the physical transfer of matter. It is characterized by two key properties: wavelength and frequency.
The wavelength of a wave refers to the distance between two successive points in the wave that are in the same phase, such as two adjacent peaks or troughs. It is typically represented by the symbol λ (lambda) and is measured in units of length, such as meters or centimeters. Wavelength determines the spatial extent of one complete cycle of the wave.
Frequency, on the other hand, is the number of complete cycles or oscillations of a wave that occur per unit of time. It is denoted by the symbol f or ν (nu) and is measured in units of hertz (Hz), which represents cycles per second. Frequency determines how many times the wave repeats itself in a given time period.
In summary, a wave can be described as a disturbance that travels through a medium or space, characterized by its wavelength (the spatial distance between successive points in the same phase) and frequency (the number of complete cycles occurring per unit of time). The wavelength and frequency are related to each other through the equation: speed of light = wavelength × frequency.