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To convert from hertz (Hz) to kilohertz (kHz), use the following formula:
Let's convert 5 hertz (Hz) to kilohertz (kHz).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 hertz (Hz) is equal to kilohertz (kHz).
Here are some quick reference conversions from hertz (Hz) to kilohertz (kHz):
| hertz | kilohertz |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 Hz | kHz |
| 0.001 Hz | kHz |
| 0.1 Hz | kHz |
| 1 Hz | kHz |
| 2 Hz | kHz |
| 3 Hz | kHz |
| 4 Hz | kHz |
| 5 Hz | kHz |
| 6 Hz | kHz |
| 7 Hz | kHz |
| 8 Hz | kHz |
| 9 Hz | kHz |
| 10 Hz | kHz |
| 20 Hz | kHz |
| 30 Hz | kHz |
| 40 Hz | kHz |
| 50 Hz | kHz |
| 100 Hz | kHz |
| 1000 Hz | kHz |
| 10000 Hz | kHz |
For all Frequency converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
Hertz (Hz) is the standard unit of frequency, measuring the number of cycles per second.
You encounter it everywhere in modern technology, from the sound you hear and the screen you're looking at to the speed of your computer's processor (CPU). The plural form is simply hertz.
The unit is named in honor of the German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.
In the late 1880s, he was the first person to provide conclusive proof of the existence of electromagnetic waves. His groundbreaking experiments laid the groundwork for the development of radio, television, and all forms of wireless communication.
Hertz is a fundamental measurement you encounter in everyday technology, often without realizing it. Here are two of the most common examples:
A sound's pitch is determined by its frequency (measured in hertz): higher frequencies produce higher pitches.
For example, the A above middle C on a piano is standardized at 440 Hz.
The refresh rate of your computer monitor, TV, or smartphone screen is measured in hertz.
This number indicates how frequently the display updates the image per second—a higher value results in smoother motion, which is especially noticeable in videos and gaming.
When discussing computer processors, you often hear the term gigahertz (GHz). One gigahertz is equal to one billion hertz (1 GHz = 109 Hz).
This value represents the processor's CPU clock speed—the number of processing cycles it can execute per second.
Before gigahertz became the standard, speeds were often measured in megahertz (MHz), where 1 GHz equals 1,000 MHz. While not the sole indicator of performance, a higher clock speed generally means a processor can perform calculations and execute instructions more quickly.
A kilohertz (kHz) is a unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one thousand hertz (1000 Hz). The plural form is kilohertz.
It's a term you'll encounter in everything from sound and radio to the history of computing.
Your ability to perceive sound, from the deepest bass to the highest treble, is measured in hertz and kilohertz.
The range of human hearing typically falls between 20 Hz and 20 kilohertz (20,000 Hz).
The frequencies most sensitive to the human ear, particularly for understanding speech, are concentrated in the range of 1 to 4 kHz. This is why audio engineers and audiologists pay close attention to this specific spectrum when mixing music or conducting hearing tests.
Kilohertz is the fundamental unit used for AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio broadcasting.
AM radio stations operate in a frequency range from 535 to 1705 kilohertz in the Americas, often referred to as the medium wave band.
Each station is assigned a specific frequency, like 820 kHz or 1010 kHz, which your radio receiver tunes into to capture the broadcast signal. This contrasts with FM radio, which broadcasts in the much higher megahertz (MHz) range.
While today's computers boast processor speeds in gigahertz (GHz), the pioneers of computing operated at much slower speeds measured in kilohertz.
For instance, the Intel 4004, the world's first commercial microprocessor, was released in 1971 with a clock speed of just 740 kHz.
Beyond computing, kilohertz frequencies are also crucial in other technologies. A key example is medical ultrasound, where transducers emit sound waves in the high kHz to low MHz range to create diagnostic images of the body's organs and tissues.