What is each completed pattern of a periodic waveform called?

A completed pattern of a periodic waveform is referred to as a cycle. In waveforms, a cycle encompasses one full occurrence of the waveform’s repeating pattern. This includes traversing from a starting point, through its peak, back through the starting point, to a trough and returning again to the starting point. Cycles are the foundational building blocks of waveform analysis and characterization, often used in the study of signals in electronics, acoustics, and communications. Understanding cycles helps in defining periodic phenomena and is essential for calculating other properties like frequency, which is the number of cycles that occur in a given timeframe.

Other options like waveform refer to the visual representation of the signal, pulsation indicates a rhythmic beat or modulation that may not necessarily cover a full cycle, and frequency describes how often a cycle repeats per unit of time, but doesn’t itself define the completed pattern. Thus, a cycle is the most precise term for a completed pattern of a periodic waveform.