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Multiple Choice

If a wave has a short period, what is true about its frequency?

Frequency is how many cycles pass each second, while period is how long one cycle takes. They are inversely related: f = 1/T. So a short period means each cycle happens quickly, leading to more cycles per second, which is a high frequency. For example, a period of 0.01 s gives a frequency of 100 Hz. If the period were longer, say 2 s, the frequency would be 0.5 Hz. The other options don’t fit because a long period corresponds to a low frequency, a nonperiodic signal wouldn’t have a well-defined frequency, and “medium” isn’t a specific result of the inverse relationship.

Frequency is how many cycles pass each second, while period is how long one cycle takes. They are inversely related: f = 1/T. So a short period means each cycle happens quickly, leading to more cycles per second, which is a high frequency. For example, a period of 0.01 s gives a frequency of 100 Hz. If the period were longer, say 2 s, the frequency would be 0.5 Hz. The other options don’t fit because a long period corresponds to a low frequency, a nonperiodic signal wouldn’t have a well-defined frequency, and “medium” isn’t a specific result of the inverse relationship.