The distance from one compression to the next in a sound wave is called the wavelength.

Here's a breakdown:

* Compression: A region in a sound wave where the particles of the medium are close together.

* Rarefaction: A region in a sound wave where the particles of the medium are spread out.

* Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive compressions (or rarefactions) in a sound wave.

The wavelength of a sound wave is directly related to its frequency. Higher frequency sound waves have shorter wavelengths, and lower frequency sound waves have longer wavelengths.