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Period, frequency, amplitude
Beginner
Basic descriptors of an oscillation.
T = 1/fPeriod T is time per cycle, frequency f = 1/T cycles per second (Hz), amplitude A is the maximum displacement. Energy depends on amplitude, not period, for SHM.
A mass vibrating 5 times per second: f = 5 Hz, T = 0.2 s.
Peak-to-peak is 2A.
In more detail
The period T is the time for one full cycle, the frequency f is the number of cycles per second, and the amplitude A is the maximum displacement. They are related by f = 1/T.
Real-world uses
- Mains electricity runs at 50 or 60 hertz.
- Musicians tune instruments by adjusting the frequency of vibration.
- A quartz watch crystal oscillates tens of thousands of times a second, and its frequency sets the timing of the watch.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the unit of frequency?
The hertz, one cycle per second.
Does amplitude change the period?
For simple harmonic motion, no. Larger amplitude does not change the period.
What is the relation between period and frequency?
They are reciprocals: the frequency is the number of cycles per second, and the period is the time for one cycle.
Related topics in Oscillations & SHM
Periodic motion · Oscillatory motion · Simple harmonic motion · SHM displacement · SHM velocity