The frequency of a trigonometric function is the number of cycles it completes in a given interval. This interval is generally 2π radians (or 360º) for the sine and cosine curves. This sine curve, y = sin x, completes 1 cycle in the interval from 0 to 2π radians. Its frequency is 1 in the interval of 2π.

Steps to Making Your Frequency Distribution

1. Step 1: Calculate the range of the data set.
2. Step 2: Divide the range by the number of groups you want and then round up.
3. Step 3: Use the class width to create your groups.
4. Step 4: Find the frequency for each group.

The relative frequency of a class is found by dividing the frequency by the number of values in the data sample – this gives the proportion that fall into that class. The cumulative relative frequency is found by dividing the relative frequency by the number in the sample.

Determining wave frequency from a graph

1. Determining wave frequency from a graph.
2. f • Frequency = #of cycles/time • Measured in Hertz (Hz)
3. • 1 cycle = 1 full wave to repeat itself.
4. 31 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Time in seconds 3 cycles.
5. from 0 to 12 seconds 31 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Time in seconds 0.
6. f=3 /12 s = ¼ Hz 31 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Time in seconds.

1. To find the amplitude, wavelength, period, and frequency of a sinusoidal wave, write down the wave function in the form y(x,t)=Asin(kx−ωt+ϕ).
2. The amplitude can be read straight from the equation and is equal to A.
3. The period of the wave can be derived from the angular frequency (T=2πω).

Amplitude does not affect wavelength. It also does not affect wave speed. Amplitude is the energy of the wave measured from the rest position to the top of the crest.

From these equations you may realize that as the frequency increases, the wavelength gets shorter. As the frequency decreases, the wavelength gets longer. There are two basic types of waves: mechanical and electromagnetic.

The amount of energy they carry is related to their frequency and their amplitude. The higher the frequency, the more energy, and the higher the amplitude, the more energy. You can make these patterns yourself with the activity Investigating waves and energy.

Doubling the frequency of a wave source (without altering the medium) doubles the speed of the waves. Don’t be fooled. Wave speed may equal frequency*wavelength. Yet doubling the frequency only halves the wavelength; wave speed remains the same.