(noob)Can someone explain how oscillator work?

[tomleo16]

Sorry if the question sounds dumb..Can't seem to comprehend the meaning..

Suppose i have an on board(development board) that has a 100Mhz oscillator that provides the system clock input?What does it mean actually?
it oscillate at 100Mhz per second?100per clock pulse?

Let says i want to use a 100Mhz to count a period of 5seconds.How is it related to it?

Would appreciate it if anybody could explain it in a simple way...

thanks to those who answer in advance..i appreciate it
tomleo

[MrViggy]

Well, "Hertz" is the unit for frequency. 1Hz is 1 cycle per second. So, 100MHz is 100,000,000Hz, or 100 million cycles per second. Having said that, can you figure out how many clock pulses you'll need to count, to get to 5 seconds? ;)

Viggy

[tomleo16]

um..if 1hz = 1 cycle(i assume 1 cycle is 1 clock pulse),i need 500 million clock pulse for 5 seconds?