Question

A.C. Fundamentals - Time period and frequency

Answer 1

In the realm of electrical engineering and physics, alternating current (AC) is a type of electrical current where the direction of the current periodically reverses. Two fundamental concepts associated with AC are time period and frequency.

Time Period: The time period of an AC waveform is the amount of time it takes for one complete cycle to occur. A cycle is defined as one full oscillation of the AC waveform, starting from a specific point, going through its positive and negative phases, and returning to the starting point. Time period is usually denoted by the symbol "T" and is measured in seconds (s).

Mathematically, the relationship between time period and frequency (discussed next) is given by:

Time Period (T) = 1 / Frequency (f)

Frequency: Frequency refers to the number of complete cycles of an AC waveform that occur in one second. It is measured in Hertz (Hz). One Hertz is equal to one cycle per second.

Mathematically, the relationship between frequency and time period is given by:

Frequency (f) = 1 / Time Period (T)

Common units of frequency include kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz), and gigahertz (GHz) for higher frequency ranges.

In summary, time period and frequency are inversely related: as the frequency of an AC waveform increases, its time period decreases, and vice versa. These concepts are crucial in understanding and analyzing AC circuits, including topics like waveform generation, signal processing, and power distribution.