Which term refers to the speed at which a wave travels through a medium?

The term that refers to the speed at which a wave travels through a medium is wave speed. Wave speed is defined as the distance a wave travels per unit of time, and it is an essential concept in understanding how waves behave in different environments.

Wave speed can be calculated by multiplying the wavelength (the distance between successive crests of the wave) by the frequency (the number of waves that pass a fixed point in one second). This relationship highlights the importance of wave speed in determining how quickly energy is transmitted through the medium by the wave.

In contrast, wave amplitude refers to the height of the wave from its rest position, which indicates the energy or intensity of the wave but does not relate to its speed. Wave frequency tells us how many waves pass a point in one second, while wavelength provides information on the distance between wave peaks, neither of which directly measure the speed of the wave. Therefore, wave speed is the most accurate term to describe the speed at which waves move through a medium.