Frequency

Definition:

• Frequency is the number of cycles of a waveform in one second.
• It is calculated as the reciprocal of the time for one cycle, known as the period.

Measurement Unit

• Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Period Measurement

• The period is determined using the 'timebase' (seconds per division) from oscilloscope controls.

Example

In the oscilloscope with a timebase set at 2 milliseconds per division:

• A regular sine wave repeats itself every four boxes on the screen.
• To find the frequency, count the number of divisions for one full cycle (highlighted in yellow).
• Timebase: 2 milliseconds (0.002s) per division.
• Periodic time for one cycle = divisions x timebase.

Frequency Calculation

• Frequency = 1 / Period