Which parameter describes the number of cycles per second?

Which parameter describes the number of cycles per second?

• A. Wavelength
• B. Period
• C. Frequency
• D. Propagation speed

Answer: (C)

Frequency is the measure of how many complete cycles occur each second. It’s defined as the reciprocal of the period (f = 1/T) and is measured in hertz. In a wave, higher frequency means more cycles pass per second. Wavelength describes the spatial length of one cycle, period is the time for one cycle, and propagation speed is how fast the wave travels (v = fλ). So the term that matches “cycles per second” is frequency.

Frequency is the measure of how many complete cycles occur each second. It’s defined as the reciprocal of the period (f = 1/T) and is measured in hertz. In a wave, higher frequency means more cycles pass per second. Wavelength describes the spatial length of one cycle, period is the time for one cycle, and propagation speed is how fast the wave travels (v = fλ). So the term that matches “cycles per second” is frequency.