What term describes the rate at which sound vibrations repeat?

The term that describes the rate at which sound vibrations repeat is frequency. In acoustics and audio, frequency refers to the number of cycles of a sound wave that occur in one second, measured in hertz (Hz). A higher frequency corresponds to a higher pitch of sound, while a lower frequency corresponds to a lower pitch. Understanding frequency is essential for various applications in audio, such as tuning musical instruments, setting equalizers, and analyzing sound quality.

Waveform refers to the shape of the sound wave itself, showing how the sound pressure changes over time. Amplitude represents the strength or intensity of the sound wave, which correlates to the loudness of the sound but does not relate to the repetition rate. Harmonics are the frequencies that are multiples of a fundamental frequency, contributing to the richness and complexity of a sound, but they do not define the rate of repetition for the fundamental frequency itself. Thus, frequency is the most accurate term for this concept.