What is the term used for the time it takes to complete one full cycle of a sine wave?

The term that describes the time it takes to complete one full cycle of a sine wave is called the period. The period is a fundamental concept in wave mechanics and electronics, representing the duration of time taken for a single cycle of the waveform to travel from its starting point, through its maximum and minimum values, and back to the starting point. In mathematical terms, the period is usually measured in seconds.

Understanding period is crucial in various applications, such as in radio frequency communications where signals are characterized by specific frequencies. The relationship between period and frequency is inversely proportional, meaning that as the frequency of a wave increases (more cycles per second), the period decreases (less time for each cycle). This relationship is expressed as period = 1/frequency.

Other terms, such as frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, are also related to wave properties but refer to different characteristics. Frequency denotes how many cycles occur in a second, wavelength indicates the physical length of one complete cycle of the wave, and amplitude refers to the maximum displacement from the rest position. Each plays a distinct role in wave behavior, but the period specifically pertains to the cycle completion time.