Final answer:
Frequency is the count of how many complete oscillations occur per unit time, measured in hertz (Hz), whereas an oscillation is one full cycle of motion. Frequency is inversely related to the period (T), which is the time needed for one complete oscillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Frequency and Oscillations
The frequency and oscillations are related concepts in the context of periodic motion, but they refer to different aspects of that motion. Frequency (f) is the number of oscillations (or cycles) that occur per unit time. In simpler terms, it is how often something happens, like how often a pendulum swings back and forth in one second. The SI unit for frequency is the hertz (Hz), which is equivalent to one oscillation per second. On the other hand, an oscillation refers to one complete movement from one point, back to a second point, and return to the original point, essentially one cycle of the motion.
The time it takes to complete one such cycle is called the period (T), and it is inversely related to the frequency. Periodic motion, such as that of a swinging pendulum, means the motion repeats itself at regular intervals, which implies a consistent frequency. In terms of energy and waves, higher-frequency waves have more oscillations per unit time and also deliver more energy, often described as more energetic photons, than lower-frequency waves.
Therefore, while an oscillation describes a single cycle of this motion, frequency describes how many of these cycles happen within a specified duration, such as a second.