What is the process of energy transfer in waves called when it occurs nearly friction-free between molecules?

The process of energy transfer in waves, especially in a friction-free manner between molecules, is most accurately termed transmission. This describes how energy moves through a medium as waves without significant energy loss due to friction, allowing the energy to effectively transfer from one molecule to the next.

In the context of waves, transmission refers to the ability of the wave energy to pass through a medium—such as water, air, or a solid material—enabling the wave to continue propagating. It focuses on the conveyance of energy and momentum rather than the motion of the individual molecules of the medium involved.

The term orbit typically pertains to the circular or elliptical paths that celestial bodies follow around a star, and oscillation describes the repetitive variation of a system about a central point, which may not directly refer to energy transfer. Propagation, while closely related to the movement of waves, encompasses the broader aspect of how waves travel through space and time but does not specifically emphasize the nearly friction-free nature of energy transfer at the molecular level like transmission does.