Another unit for frequency is the Hertz (abbreviated Hz) where 1 Hz is equivalent to 1 cycle/second. Given this definition, it is reasonable that the quantity frequency would have units of cycles/second, waves/second, vibrations/second, or something/second. ![]() For example, it is not uncommon to hear a question like "How frequently do you mow the lawn during the summer months?" Of course the question is an inquiry about how often the lawn is mowed and the answer is usually given in the form of "1 time per week." In mathematical terms, the frequency is the number of complete vibrational cycles of a medium per a given amount of time. Frequency is a part of our common, everyday language. The frequency of a wave refers to how often the particles of the medium vibrate when a wave passes through the medium. ![]() This rate of 2 cycles/second is referred to as the frequency of the wave. In fact, every coil of the slinky would vibrate at this rate of 2 cycles/second. The third coil, being attached to the second coil, would vibrate at a rate of 2 cycles/second. The second coil, being attached to the first coil, would vibrate at a rate of 2 cycles/second. The first coil, being attached to the hand, in turn would vibrate at a rate of 2 cycles/second. The rate of the hand's motion would be 2 cycles/second. Suppose that a hand holding the first coil of a slinky is moved back-and-forth two complete cycles in one second. ![]() But the act of continually vibrating the first coil with a back-and-forth motion in periodic fashion introduces a wave into the slinky. A single back-and-forth vibration of the first coil of a slinky introduces a pulse into the slinky. This vibration creates a disturbance that moves through the slinky and transports energy from the first coil to the last coil. In that lesson, it was mentioned that a wave is created in a slinky by the periodic and repeating vibration of the first coil of the slinky. The nature of a wave was discussed in Lesson 1 of this unit.
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