What is the term for the actual time it takes a sine wave to complete a full cycle?

The term that describes the actual time it takes a sine wave to complete a full cycle is known as the period. The period is the duration of one complete cycle of a wave, measured in units of time such as seconds. It represents the time taken for the wave to return to its initial position, allowing one to quantify how long it takes for the cycle to repeat itself.

Frequency, on the other hand, relates to how many cycles occur in a specific unit of time, typically measured in hertz (Hz), and is inversely related to the period. Amplitude refers to the maximum displacement of the wave from its rest position, indicating how strong or intense the wave is, but it does not relate to time. Wavelength represents the spatial distance between consecutive peaks (or troughs) of the wave and is measured in units of length.

Understanding these terms is crucial in fields such as physics and engineering, where wave behavior is analyzed, making the concept of the period a key component in the study of oscillatory systems.