On 2007 Mar 31 , at 9:55 PM, Pat Naughtin wrote:
As Marion says, while it is possible to choose to use either
oscillations per second or seconds per oscillation for measuring
frequency, it is probably best to choose one of these and then
remain consistent.
NO, it is NOT possible to measure frequency in seconds per
oscillation OR in oscillations per second.
Those are two different things.
Frequency is measured in occillations per second only (or any other
time unit, of course).
Measuring the number of seconds per oscillation is measuring the
PERIOD of the oscillation, NOT its FREQUENCY.
There is not need to "choose one to be consistent". Both are valid
measurements and either can be used. They are just different things.
There are circumstances where one or the other might be more
convenient but there is never an occasion where one does not have the
freedom to choose whichever one one wishes.
Example
The wavelength (L) of a wave is related to the velocity (V) of the
wave by BOTH of the following equations:
L = V x T, where T = the period of oscillation of the wave
L = V / F, where F = the frequency of the wave
Obviously, T and F are not the same thing. Indeed, they are
reciprocals of one another; that is
F =1 / T
and
T = 1 / F
Bill Hooper
1810 mm tall
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
