Back To Basics #1 – What Is Frequency?

Frequency is a term that you might have heard before, but what does it actually mean? In the most basic sense, frequency refers to the number of times something happens over a given period of time. It’s often measured in hertz (Hz) or bpm, which refers to the number of occurrences per second or beats per minute, respectively.

For example, if you were to flip a coin once every second, the frequency of getting heads or tails would be one per second (1 Hz). And, if you were to tap your foot to a song, the frequency of your foot tapping would be the number of times your foot hits the ground in a minute (bpm).

But frequency is not limited to physical actions – it can also be used to describe many other things, including sound, light, and even electrical signals.

For sound, frequency is one of the characteristics that help determine the pitch of a sound – whether it’s a high-pitched squeak or a low-pitched rumble. High-frequency sounds have a higher pitch, and low-frequency sounds have a lower pitch. For example, the sound of a bird chirping is much higher in frequency (and, therefore, pitch) than the sound of a bass drum.

In the world of light, frequency is what determines the color we see. Different colors of light have different frequencies, allowing us to see all the beautiful colors that make up the world around us. The higher the frequency of light, the more blue and violet it becomes, and the lower the frequency, the redder the light becomes.

Frequency is also used in the field of electricity and electronics. Electrical signals are often measured in terms of their frequency, which can help us understand how they behave and how they can be used in different devices and circuits. For example, the electrical power grid that powers our city and houses uses alternating current that changes polarity at 50 Hz (60 Hz in the US).

To sum up, frequency is an important concept that is used in many different fields. It’s a measure of how often something happens, and it can be used to understand everything from the pitch of a sound to the colors of the rainbow. Next time you hear the term “frequency,” I hope you will have a better understanding of what it means and how it can be used to describe the world around you.