What term describes the distance over which a wave's shape repeats?

The term that describes the distance over which a wave's shape repeats is wavelength. Wavelength is a fundamental characteristic of waves and is defined as the spatial interval between consecutive points that are in phase on the wave, such as from crest to crest or trough to trough. In other words, it indicates the length of one complete cycle of the wave's oscillation. This measurement is crucial in understanding various wave properties, such as its frequency and speed, as these concepts are interrelated through the wave equation.

Frequency refers to how many cycles of the wave occur in a unit of time, amplitude relates to the height of the wave, indicating the energy carried by the wave, and wave speed refers to how fast the wave travels through a medium. While these terms describe important aspects of wave behavior, wavelength specifically pertains to the repeating distance of the wave's shape.