What describes the number of times per second that an alternating current makes a complete cycle?

• A. Voltage
• B. Power
• C. Frequency
• D. Resistance

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is frequency. Frequency describes how many complete cycles of alternating current (AC) occur in one second and is measured in hertz (Hz). In the context of AC, each cycle represents one complete transition of the current from a positive peak to a negative peak and back again. This concept is fundamental in understanding how electrical systems operate, particularly in applications involving radio frequencies, where it's crucial for transmitting and receiving signals.

Voltage, on the other hand, refers to the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. Power is the rate at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit, and resistance measures how much a material opposes the flow of current. While these terms are related to electricity, they do not describe the cyclical behavior of alternating current in the way that frequency does. Understanding frequency is essential for ham radio operators as it affects how signals are transmitted and received over various frequencies in the radio spectrum.