Understanding Frequency and Waves in Physics and Engineering

[member 428835]

Let $f$ denote frequency and $p$ denote period. Then $f=1/p$. Given some wave, say $\sin( \beta t)$, most publications refer to $\beta$ as the frequency. But we know $p=2\pi/\beta\implies f=\beta/2\pi$. Do most physicists and engineers omit the $2\pi$ part?

Thanks!

 

[andrewkirk]

$\beta$ is called the angular frequency. It should not be referred to as frequency which, as you show above, is the angular frequency divided by $2\pi$.

However, when precision is not needed, careful use of these words can safely be dropped. For instance if one is just talking about increasing frequency, it doesn't matter whether one is referring to $\beta$ or $f$ because they are proportional and one increases when the other does.

 

[member 428835]

Thanks!