Understanding Frequency in Physics | Generated by AI
Frequency in Physics and Waves
Frequency refers to the number of times a periodic event (like a wave cycle or vibration) repeats in a given unit of time. It’s a fundamental concept in physics, especially for describing waves, oscillations, and signals.
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Key Formula: Frequency \( f \) is the reciprocal of the period \( T \) (the time for one complete cycle):
\[ f = \frac{1}{T} \] For example, if a wave completes 5 cycles in 1 second, \( f = 5 \) Hz. -
Unit: Hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second. Higher frequencies mean faster oscillations (e.g., high-pitched sounds or visible light colors like violet).
Common examples:
- Sound: Human hearing ranges from ~20 Hz (low bass) to ~20,000 Hz (high treble).
- Light: Visible light frequencies are around \( 4 \times 10^{14} \) to \( 7.5 \times 10^{14} \) Hz.
- AC Electricity: Standard wall outlets in the US operate at 60 Hz.
Frequency in Statistics and Data
In statistics, frequency is the count of how often a particular value or event appears in a dataset.
- Absolute Frequency: Raw count (e.g., the number “7” appears 3 times).
- Relative Frequency: Proportion (e.g., 3/10 = 0.3, or 30%).
- Used in histograms or frequency tables to summarize data distributions.
Other Contexts
- Probability: The proportion of times an event occurs in repeated trials (approaching true probability as trials increase).
- Telecommunications: Radio frequency (RF) bands, like FM radio at 88–108 MHz (megahertz).
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