PhysicsGCSE, IGCSE & A Level

What is frequency?

Frequency is the number of complete waves or oscillations passing a point each second, measured in hertz.

Frequency explained

Frequency is the reciprocal of the period, so a wave with a period of 0.02s0.02\,\text{s} has a frequency of 50Hz50\,\text{Hz}.
It determines pitch for sound and colour for visible light, and it stays constant when a wave moves between media.

Key formula

f=1Tf = \dfrac{1}{T}

Worked example

A pendulum completing 3030 swings in 60s60\,\text{s} has a frequency of 0.5Hz0.5\,\text{Hz}.

Examiner tip

Read the axis of an oscilloscope trace carefully — the period comes from the time base, and only then can you invert it for frequency.

Frequency: common questions

What is the unit of frequency?
The hertz (Hz), which means one cycle per second.
How is frequency related to energy?
For photons, energy equals Planck's constant times frequency, so higher-frequency radiation carries more energy per photon.

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