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Convert between all frequency units: Hertz, Kilohertz, Megahertz, Gigahertz, Terahertz, RPM, BPM, and Radians per second.
Hz to kHz:
kHz = Hz ÷ 1,000
kHz to MHz:
MHz = kHz ÷ 1,000
MHz to GHz:
GHz = MHz ÷ 1,000
RPM to Hz:
Hz = RPM ÷ 60
BPM to Hz:
Hz = BPM ÷ 60
rad/s to Hz:
Hz = rad/s ÷ (2π)
| Hertz (Hz) | Kilohertz (kHz) | Megahertz (MHz) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 | 0.000001 | Very low frequency |
| 50 | 0.05 | 0.00005 | Power line (some countries) |
| 60 | 0.06 | 0.00006 | Power line (USA) |
| 440 | 0.44 | 0.00044 | Musical note A4 |
| 1,000 | 1 | 0.001 | 1 kilohertz |
| 20,000 | 20 | 0.02 | Human hearing limit |
| 1,000,000 | 1000 | 1 | 1 megahertz |
| 88,000,000 | 88000 | 88 | FM radio lower limit |
| 2,400,000,000 | 2400000 | 2400 | 2.4 GHz WiFi |
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency, measuring cycles per second. Named after Heinrich Hertz, it quantifies how many times a periodic event occurs in one second. Hertz applies to all periodic phenomena: sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, mechanical vibrations, and electrical oscillations. One hertz represents one complete cycle per second.
Frequency units use standard metric prefixes for convenience. Kilohertz (kHz) = 1,000 Hz, megahertz (MHz) = 1,000,000 Hz, gigahertz (GHz) = 1,000,000,000 Hz, and terahertz (THz) = 1,000,000,000,000 Hz. Each prefix represents multiplication by 1,000, following the metric system's decimal structure.
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and Beats Per Minute (BPM) measure frequency over a minute rather than a second. To convert to hertz, divide by 60. These units are common in contexts where per-minute measurements are more intuitive: engine speeds, heart rates, and musical tempo. 60 RPM = 60 BPM = 1 Hz.
Radians per second (rad/s) measures angular frequency in physics and engineering. Since one complete rotation equals 2π radians, to convert rad/s to Hz, divide by 2π. This unit is essential in rotational dynamics, oscillations, and wave mechanics where angular measurements are more natural than cycles.
Frequency and wavelength are inversely related. Frequency (measured in Hz) indicates how many wave cycles occur per second, while wavelength measures the physical distance between wave peaks. Higher frequency means shorter wavelength. For electromagnetic waves: wavelength (meters) = speed of light / frequency.
WiFi uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (with 6 GHz coming in WiFi 6E) because each has trade-offs. 2.4 GHz penetrates walls better and has longer range but is slower and crowded. 5 GHz offers faster speeds and less interference but shorter range. Different frequencies suit different use cases and environments.
Humans typically hear frequencies from 20 Hz (deep bass) to 20,000 Hz or 20 kHz (high treble). This range decreases with age, especially in higher frequencies. Below 20 Hz is infrasound (felt more than heard), and above 20 kHz is ultrasound (used in medical imaging and animal communication).
Computer processors use GHz frequencies (billions of cycles per second) because each clock cycle can execute instruction steps. Higher frequency means more cycles per second, potentially more operations. Modern CPUs run at 2-5 GHz, performing billions of operations per second. However, frequency isn't everything - architecture and core count also matter significantly.
Radio frequencies are allocated by government agencies (like the FCC in the US) to prevent interference and ensure fair access. Different frequency bands have different propagation characteristics, making them suitable for specific uses. Lower frequencies travel farther but carry less data, while higher frequencies carry more data but have shorter range.