The frequency of an AC signal is inversely related to what other quantity?

• A. Resistance
• B. Capacitance
• C. Inductance
• D. Period

Answer: (D)

Frequency and period are reciprocal ideas. Frequency is how many cycles occur each second, while period is how long one complete cycle takes. By definition, f = 1/T, so they are inversely related: when the period gets longer, fewer cycles fit into a second, and the frequency drops; when the period shortens, the frequency rises.

For a quick sense: a cycle that lasts 0.01 seconds gives 100 cycles per second (100 Hz). If that same cycle takes 0.02 seconds, you get 50 Hz. The other quantities—resistance, capacitance, and inductance—affect how a circuit behaves and can influence frequency in specific configurations (like LC resonant circuits where f = 1/(2π√(LC))), but the universal inverse relationship is between frequency and period.