What does a higher frequency indicate about the sound's period?

• A. It is longer
• B. It is shorter
• C. It is unchanged
• D. It varies widely

Answer: (B)

A higher frequency indicates that the sound waves complete more cycles within a given timeframe, which directly correlates to a shorter period. The period of a sound wave is defined as the duration of one complete cycle and is inversely related to frequency. This means that as the frequency increases, the time it takes for one cycle (the period) decreases.

For instance, if a sound wave has a frequency of 100 Hz, it means 100 cycles occur in one second, resulting in a period of 0.01 seconds (1/100). Alternatively, if the frequency increases to 200 Hz, the period shortens to 0.005 seconds (1/200). This relationship demonstrates how frequency and period are connected: they are mathematically expressed as period = 1/frequency. Therefore, a higher frequency directly implies a shorter period.