Cycle

A complete turn of events. When an object vibrates, the movement from its initial position to a point of maximum displacement in one direction, followed by movement to a point of maximum displacement in the opposite direction and a return to its initial position is called one cycle.

The time taken by one cycle is called a period and the number of cycles per second is the frequency.

Compare: Oscillation, Phase, Simple Harmonic Motion, Sound Pressure, Sound Wave, Vibration, Waveform, Wavelength.

See tempo for diagrams and discussion of daily and annual acoustic cycles.

Graph of pressure or amplitude versus time of a complex wave showing cyclic repetition.

Spatial variation of pressure showing stylized compression and rarefaction of molecules, such as those in air.