What is the term for the distance or length of one complete cycle in a wave?

What is the term for the distance or length of one complete cycle in a wave?

• A. Amplitude
• B. Period
• C. Wavelength
• D. Frequency

Answer: (C)

Wavelength is the spatial distance of one complete cycle. It’s the space from one crest to the next crest (or from one trough to the next trough). This differs from period, which is the time for one cycle, and from frequency, which is how many cycles occur each second. In ultrasound, wavelength can be found with lambda = c/f, where c is the speed of sound in tissue (about 1540 m/s) and f is the frequency. For example, a 2 MHz wave has a wavelength around 0.77 mm, and a 5 MHz wave about 0.308 mm. Shorter wavelengths improve axial resolution because they allow the system to distinguish smaller features.

Wavelength is the spatial distance of one complete cycle. It’s the space from one crest to the next crest (or from one trough to the next trough). This differs from period, which is the time for one cycle, and from frequency, which is how many cycles occur each second. In ultrasound, wavelength can be found with lambda = c/f, where c is the speed of sound in tissue (about 1540 m/s) and f is the frequency. For example, a 2 MHz wave has a wavelength around 0.77 mm, and a 5 MHz wave about 0.308 mm. Shorter wavelengths improve axial resolution because they allow the system to distinguish smaller features.