North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

Frequency is a fundamental concept in various fields, including physics, engineering, and telecommunications. It is defined as the number of cycles of a periodic wave that occur in one second. The standard unit for measuring frequency is Hertz (Hz), which indicates one cycle per second.

Using this convention, if a sound wave oscillates 440 times in one second, it is said to have a frequency of 440 Hz. Hertz serves as a universal metric that allows for the comparison and understanding of frequencies across different contexts, such as sound waves, radio waves, and other types of electromagnetic phenomena.

The other options presented do not represent frequency. Watts measure power, the rate at which energy is transferred or converted. Volts are the unit of electric potential or electromotive force. Cycling intervals may describe the timing or pattern of cycles but do not quantify frequency itself. Hence, Hertz is the correctly associated unit for frequency.