A navigation beacon rotates and emits a brief, narrow beam of light each time its arm completes one full revolution. An observer standing on shore records the moments at which the beam sweeps past her position.
During a single uninterrupted observation interval of 180 s, the observer tallies exactly 24 flashes of light from the beacon.
(a) Describe—in words only—the reasoning you would use to determine the rotational period of the beacon from the observer’s tally.
(b) Calculate the beacon’s rotational frequency and period, expressing each with appropriate units and significant figures.
(c) Suppose the beacon’s drive motor is upgraded so that the beacon now completes 60 revolutions in the same 180 s interval. Explain qualitatively how the numerical values of period and frequency change, and identify which quantity is inversely proportional to the number of flashes counted in a fixed time.