Key Stage 3 (KS3) Waves Practice Test

The period of a wave refers to the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a given point. This means that if you were to observe a point in space, the period is the duration from one crest to the next crest, or from one trough to the next trough. It is a critical characteristic of waves as it determines how quickly the wave oscillates.

Other options presented do not accurately describe the period. The distance between successive crests pertains to the wavelength, which measures spatial separation rather than time. The height of the wave from crest to trough refers to the amplitude, which indicates the wave's strength but does not relate to the time factor. Finally, the speed of wave propagation describes how fast the wave travels through a medium but does not define the timing of the wave cycles. Thus, the correct definition of the period is indeed the time taken for one complete wave cycle to pass a point.