Does the period or frequency represent an orbit?

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that period and frequency are two interrelated concepts in the context of orbits, specifically for celestial bodies. It establishes that any periodic function, including planetary orbits, has both a period (T) and frequency (f), where frequency is the reciprocal of the period (1/T = f). The conversation emphasizes that neither period nor frequency "represents" an orbit; rather, they are mathematical descriptions of the same phenomenon. It is noted that the period is typically preferred for expressing the orbital characteristics of planets due to its simplicity in common units.

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  • Understanding of periodic functions
  • Basic knowledge of orbital mechanics
  • Familiarity with mathematical relationships between period and frequency
  • Concept of celestial bodies and their orbits
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marshall4
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does the period or frequency represent an orbit?
 
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The question simply doesn't make sense. Any periodic function has both period and frequency- given one, you can calculate the other.
Neither "represents" an orbit.

If you do have something, such as a planet, orbiting, then you must have both a period (the number of days, seconds, etc. required to complete one full orbit) and a frequency (the number of orbits per day, second, etc.) and one is just the reciprocal of the other. If you are thinking of one as "representing" the orbit, the other could as well.

To answer the question you DIDN'T ask but probably intended, it is more common to give the period of an orbit of a planet about the sun rather than the frequency just because it is a simpler number in the most common units.
 
1/T = Frequency

1/f = Period.


where T = period.

Knowing either one will get you the answer for the other.
 

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