IB Physics HL Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Higher Level Test!

The relationship between the period and frequency of a wave is that frequency is the reciprocal of the period. The period (T) of a wave is the time it takes for one complete cycle to pass a given point, measured in seconds. Frequency (f), on the other hand, is defined as the number of cycles that occur in one second, measured in hertz (Hz).

This relationship can be mathematically represented by the equation:

\[ f = \frac{1}{T} \]

This means that as the period increases, the frequency decreases, and vice versa. If the period is long, there are fewer cycles per second, resulting in a lower frequency. Conversely, if the period is short, there are more cycles in the same timeframe, which leads to a higher frequency.

The other options present incorrect relationships between period and frequency. The first suggests a quadratic relationship, the second proposes a linear adjustment, and the last states that frequency and period are unrelated, which contradicts the fundamental relationship that exists between these two wave properties.