Frequency Calculator
Frequency is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering, describing how often an event repeats itself over a given period of time. It's a measure of the rate of oscillation, vibration, or rotation. The standard unit for frequency is the Hertz (Hz), which represents one cycle per second.
Understanding frequency is crucial in many fields, from sound waves and radio signals to electrical circuits and mechanical vibrations. This calculator provides two common methods to determine frequency:
- From Period: If you know the time it takes for one complete cycle (the period), you can easily find the frequency.
- From Number of Cycles and Total Time: If you observe a certain number of cycles occurring over a specific duration, you can calculate the average frequency.
Method 1: Calculate Frequency from Period
The period (T) is the time it takes for one complete cycle of a repeating event. Frequency (f) is the reciprocal of the period. The formula is: f = 1 / T
Method 2: Calculate Frequency from Number of Cycles and Total Time
If you know the total number of cycles (N) that occur within a specific total time (t), you can calculate the frequency using the formula: f = N / t
Examples of Frequency Calculation:
- Example 1 (Using Period): If a pendulum completes one swing (one cycle) in 2 seconds, its period (T) is 2 seconds.
Frequency (f) = 1 / 2 seconds = 0.5 Hz.
- Example 2 (Using Cycles and Time): If a rotating machine completes 600 rotations (cycles) in 60 seconds,
Frequency (f) = 600 cycles / 60 seconds = 10 Hz.
- Example 3 (Using Period): A sound wave has a period of 0.001 seconds.
Frequency (f) = 1 / 0.001 seconds = 1000 Hz (or 1 kHz).
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function calculateFrequencyFromPeriod() {
var periodInput = document.getElementById("periodValue");
var period = parseFloat(periodInput.value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("frequencyResult1");
if (isNaN(period) || period <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for the Period.";
resultDiv.className = "calculator-result error";
return;
}
var frequency = 1 / period;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Frequency (f): " + frequency.toFixed(4) + " Hz";
resultDiv.className = "calculator-result";
}
function calculateFrequencyFromCycles() {
var cyclesInput = document.getElementById("cyclesValue");
var timeInput = document.getElementById("timeValue");
var cycles = parseFloat(cyclesInput.value);
var time = parseFloat(timeInput.value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("frequencyResult2");
if (isNaN(cycles) || cycles <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for the Number of Cycles.";
resultDiv.className = "calculator-result error";
return;
}
if (isNaN(time) || time <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number for the Total Time.";
resultDiv.className = "calculator-result error";
return;
}
var frequency = cycles / time;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Frequency (f): " + frequency.toFixed(4) + " Hz";
resultDiv.className = "calculator-result";
}