In an AC generator, what is each complete revolution of the loop of wire called?

In an AC generator, each complete revolution of the loop of wire is referred to as a cycle. This term is widely used in the context of alternating current (AC) because it describes the complete waveform produced in one full rotation of the generator's rotor. During a cycle, the generated electrical current moves through its entire range, from positive to negative and back to positive, thus illustrating the alternating nature of AC.

Understanding this concept of a cycle is essential, as it helps describe the frequency of the AC signal—how many cycles occur in one second, which is measured in hertz (Hz). Without this foundational understanding of cycles, discussions of phase or waveform would lack context since they are both terms that describe specific aspects or characteristics of the phenomenon that cycles represent.