Period of oscillation

Professional Definition

The period of vibration (denoted by the symbol T) is the shortest time interval after which a vibrating system returns to the same phase state, completing one full vibration. It is the inverse of frequency.

In physical terms, the basic unit of period in the SI system is second (s). The relationship between period and frequency (f) is described by the fundamental formula: T = 1/f. This means a strict inverse correlation: the shorter the period of vibration, the higher the frequency of the generated sound. For an acoustic wave, the period is the time in which a particle of the medium (e.g., air) makes a full displacement from the equilibrium position in one direction, then the other, and returns to the starting point.

Acoustics in Simple Words

To understand the period of vibration, imagine a swing on a playground. You push it, and it goes forward, then back, and returns to your hands. The time that elapses from the moment you push until the swing returns to the starting point is the period of vibration.

In the world of sound, the mechanism is identical, but it happens much faster. If a speaker cone