What is the definition of radio wave propagation?

Radio wave propagation refers to the behavior of radio waves as they travel through different mediums and across various environments. This encompasses phenomena such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and scattering, which can affect how radio signals are transmitted and received. Understanding radio wave propagation is essential for designing effective communication systems, as it helps predict how signals will behave over distance and through obstacles.

The other options focus on different concepts that do not pertain directly to radio waves. For instance, communication through sound waves involves acoustics and is unrelated to electromagnetic wave behavior. The reflection of sound waves pertains to audio phenomena, not radio frequencies. Lastly, the speed of light in different mediums relates to electromagnetic theory but does not specifically address the propagation of radio waves in the context of communication.