What Is Frequency?

Frequency tells us how often something repeats in one second. It is a core concept in physics, engineering, and everyday tech. When you hear “how fast does a wheel spin?” you are really asking for its frequency.

Understanding Hertz (Hz)

Hertz, symbol Hz, is the SI unit for frequency. One hertz means one complete cycle every second. It is the language of clocks, radios, and computer processors.

Understanding Degrees per Second (°/s)

Degrees per second measures angular speed. It answers “how many degrees does an object turn each second?” One full circle equals 360 degrees, so this unit is common in robotics, animation, and motor control.

Direct Conversion: Hertz ↔ Degrees per Second

Conversion factor: 1 Hz = 360 °/s

This factor comes from the fact that one cycle equals 360 degrees. Multiply the number of hertz by 360 to get the angular speed in degrees per second, or divide degrees per second by 360 to return to hertz.

Conversion Formula

From hertz to degrees per second: °/s = Hz × 360
From degrees per second to hertz: Hz = °/s ÷ 360

Worked Example

Suppose a motor runs at 7 Hz. How fast is it turning in degrees per second?

Start with the hertz value: 7 Hz.
Apply the formula: 7 Hz × 360 = 2,520 °/s.
The motor’s angular speed is 2,520 degrees each second.

If you need the reverse, divide 2,520 °/s by 360 and you get back to 7 Hz.

Practical Uses of This Conversion

Motor control: Engineers often receive speed specs in hertz from manufacturers but need degrees per second for motion‑profile calculations.
Animation and gaming: Frame rates are expressed in hertz, while rotation speeds are easier to script in degrees per second.
Signal processing: Frequency‑domain analysis uses hertz, yet phase‑shift calculations may require angular speed.
Robotics: Joint controllers accept angular velocity in °/s, while encoders report pulses per second (Hz).