What is the term for the distance from one peak to the next peak in a waveform?

The distance from one peak to the next peak in a waveform is referred to as the wavelength. Wavelength is a fundamental characteristic of waves, including electrical signals, and describes the spatial period of the wave, which is the length over which the wave's shape repeats. In simpler terms, it represents the distance between corresponding points of consecutive cycles in a periodic wave, such as from one crest to the next.

Understanding wavelength is crucial because it relates directly to the properties of the wave, such as its frequency and speed. The frequency of a wave indicates how many cycles occur in a given time period, while wavelength describes the physical distance between cycles. Wavelength and frequency are inversely related; as the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa.

The other terms can be contextualized as follows: frequency refers to how often a waveform cycles in one second, amplitude describes the height of the wave from its midline to a peak or trough, and pulse duration is the length of time a pulse lasts, which is not related to the distance between wave peaks.