Frequency Converter

Understanding Frequency

Frequency measures how often a periodic event repeats per unit time. In physics and engineering, frequency describes oscillations, waves, and rotations. The hertz (Hz) is the SI unit, equal to one cycle per second. Frequency is fundamental to audio, radio, computing, and many other technologies.

Frequency and period are inverses: higher frequency means shorter period. A 100 Hz signal completes 100 cycles each second, with each cycle lasting 0.01 seconds (10 milliseconds).

Frequency and Period Relationship

Frequency equals the reciprocal of period:

Example: AC power at 60 Hz has a period of:

Example: A CPU clock with 2 ns (nanosecond) period operates at:

Frequency and Wavelength

For electromagnetic waves, frequency relates to wavelength through the speed of light:

Example: FM radio at 100 MHz has a wavelength of:

Example: WiFi at 2.4 GHz has a wavelength of:

Angular Frequency

Angular frequency (ω) measures rotation rate in radians per second:

Example: 60 Hz AC power has angular frequency of:

Audio Frequency Spectrum

Human hearing spans approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz):

Radio Frequency Bands

The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into bands for different applications:

Common Frequency References

RPM to Hz Conversion

Rotational speed in RPM (revolutions per minute) converts to Hz:

Common conversions:

Unit Conversions

Convert between frequency units:

• 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second
• 1 kHz = 1,000 Hz
• 1 MHz = 1,000 kHz = 1,000,000 Hz
• 1 GHz = 1,000 MHz = 1,000,000,000 Hz
• 1 THz = 1,000 GHz = 10¹² Hz
• 1 RPM = 1/60 Hz = 0.01667 Hz
• 1 RPS (revolution per second) = 1 Hz
• 1 rad/s = 0.15915 Hz (divide by 2π)
• 1 cycle/day = 1.157 × 10⁻⁵ Hz

Applications of Frequency

• Audio engineering and music production
• Radio and television broadcasting
• Wireless communication (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular)
• Clock generation in digital electronics
• Motor speed control and monitoring
• Vibration analysis and condition monitoring
• Medical imaging (MRI, ultrasound)
• Spectroscopy and scientific instrumentation

Frequently Asked Questions