Final answer:
Periodic motion involves oscillations that repeat at regular intervals, with 'period' being the time for one oscillation and 'frequency' being the number of oscillations per unit time. They are inversely related by the equation f = 1/T, meaning the frequency is the reciprocal of the period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Period and Frequency in Oscillations
Periodic motion, such as that of a plucked guitar string, is motion that repeats itself at regular time intervals. The duration of time it takes to complete one full oscillation is termed the period (T), and it is usually measured in seconds. On the other hand, frequency (f) is defined as the number of events, or oscillations, that occur within a specific unit of time. In the context of periodic motion, it is the number of oscillations per unit time. The relationship between frequency and period is given by the equation f = 1/T, meaning that the frequency is the reciprocal of the period and vice versa.
For example, if an object vibrates with a period of 2 seconds, its frequency of oscillation is 0.5 Hz (hertz), which signifies that it completes 0.5 cycles in one second. Conversely, if an object has a frequency of 5 Hz, each cycle takes 0.2 seconds, which would be its period. This illustrates that while period and frequency refer to different aspects of oscillatory motion, they are intimately connected.