What is wave propagation?

Wave propagation refers to the travel of a wave through a medium, which can be a solid, liquid, or gas. It involves the transmission of energy in the form of waves, and this concept is fundamental in understanding various phenomena in fields such as physics and engineering.

In wave propagation, the characteristics of the medium, such as density and elasticity, play a significant role in how the wave travels. This includes considerations like speed, frequency, and wavelength of the wave. This understanding is crucial in applications such as acoustics, electromagnetics, and even oceanography, where wave behaviors are essential to analyze and predict.

The alternative choices highlight related processes associated with waves or light but do not accurately describe the concept of wave propagation. Bending light around obstacles refers to diffraction rather than propagation, absorption of light relates to how materials interact with light rather than transmitting it, and emission of light pertains to the generation of waves from a source rather than their travel. Thus, the correct definition of wave propagation is found in the travel of a wave through a medium.