Period and Frequency


Period refers to the amount of time, in seconds; a signal needs to complete 1 cycle. Frequency refers to the number of periods in 1 second.

Formula

Frequency

Frequency is formally expressed in Hertz (Hz), which is cycles per second.

Period

Period is formally expressed in seconds.


Frequency and Period are just one characteristics defined in two ways. Period is the inverse of frequency, and frequency is the inverse of period.

Two signals with the same phase and frequency, but different frequencies: image::period-and-frequency-two-signals-with-the-same-phase-and-frequency-but-different-frequencies.png[]

Frequency has two extremes (physically impossible):

  • If a signal does not change at all, it never completes a cycle, its frequency is zero.

  • If a signal changes instantaneously, its frequency is infinite (unbounded) and its period is zero.

  • frequency is the rate of change with respect to time

    • change in a short span of time means high frequency

    • change over a long span of time means low frequency