🔍 Key Concepts

• Definition of a wave length in basic seamanship and oceanography • Difference between crest (highest point) and trough (lowest point) of a wave • How one full repeating wave cycle is measured along the water surface

💭 Think About

• Which two repeating points on a wave are used to mark one complete wave cycle along the surface? • If you started at the highest point of one wave and went to the same position on the next wave, what would you call that distance? • Do we usually define a full wave cycle using one high point and one low point, or two like points in the pattern?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definitions of crest and trough before choosing. • Make sure the definition you pick represents one full repeating unit of the wave pattern along the surface. • Eliminate any options that only describe part of the wave (just the top or just the bottom) rather than the full cycle distance.