Period:



Define: The period of a wave is the time it takes for the wave to repeat, or pass a certain point twice. When two consecutive peaks have passed a certain point, the wave has completed one cycle. If it takes 2 seconds for two consecutive peaks to pass a certain point, then the wave has a period of 2 seconds per cycle. Period equals 1 divided by the frequency.


Units: seconds minutes hours days years


Examples: A wave completes 3 cycles every second. What is the period of the wave? The frequency of the wave is 3 cycles per second. period = 1 / frequency(3) period = 1/3 seconds The period of the wave is 1/3 of a second.


Equations: p = period f = frequency p = 1/f


Unlike frequency, period is.......... period is the time it takes for the wave to complete one cycle. Frequency is how many cycles the wave completes in a certain amount of time. If a wave completes one cycle in 0.5 seconds, it's period is 0.5 seconds and it's frequency is 2 cycles per second.


Source: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/u10l2b.html