Final answer:
The rate at which a complex waveform repeats is called its fundamental frequency, which is the lowest resonant frequency and the first harmonic. Overtones are harmonics that are multiples of this fundamental frequency. The frequency of a waveform is the amount of its repetitions over a period of time and is measured in hertz.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate at which a complex waveform repeats is called its fundamental frequency. This is the lowest resonant frequency of the system and all other higher resonant frequencies, called overtones or harmonics, are multiples of the fundamental frequency. For a waveform to repeat itself, it goes through what is known as a period, which is the time it takes to complete one oscillation. The frequency is the number of repetitions of the waveform over a period of time and is measured in hertz (Hz), where 1 Hz equals one cycle per second.
In a system such as a stringed instrument, the lowest frequency (fundamental), is produced for the longest wavelength. The first harmonic is the fundamental frequency, the second harmonic is the first overtone, and so on. The frequency can be expressed as f = 1/T, where T is the period. Therefore, the correct answer is C) fundamental frequency.