Final answer:
The symbol for the period of a wave is T, and the relationship between frequency (f) and period (T) is given by the equation f = 1/T.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mathematical symbol used for the period of a wave is T. The period (T) is defined as the time it takes for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a fixed point. It is measured in seconds (s). In the context of wave characteristics, the frequency (f) refers to the number of wave cycles that pass a point in one second, measured in hertz (Hz), which is also equivalent to s-1. The relationship between frequency and period is an inverse one, where frequency can be mathematically expressed in terms of period by the equation f = 1/T.
For example, if the period of a wave is 0.5 seconds, then the frequency would be f = 1/T = 1/0.5 = 2 Hz, meaning that 2 waves pass by every second. Essential Knowledge 6.B.1 from AP Physics describes the period as the repeat time of the wave and the frequency as the number of repetitions over a period of time.