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Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second Converter

Convert cps to rps with our free online frequency converter.

Quick Answer

1 Cycles per Second = 1 rps

Formula: Cycles per Second ร— conversion factor = Revolutions per Second

Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.

Our Accuracy Guarantee

All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.

Last verified: December 2025Reviewed by: Sam Mathew, Software Engineer

Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second Calculator

How to Use the Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Cycles per Second).
  2. The converted value in Revolutions per Second will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Frequency category.
  4. Click the swap button (โ‡Œ) to reverse the conversion direction.
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How to Convert Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second: Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

rps = cps ร— 1

Example Calculation:

1 cps = 1 rps

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

Need to convert to other frequency units?

View all Frequency conversions โ†’
๐Ÿ“Š Frequency Table

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๐Ÿ“‹ Unit Symbols

Copy cps & rps symbols

What is a Cycles per Second and a Revolutions per Second?

1 cps = 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second = 1 complete oscillation per second

1 RPS = 1 revolution per second = 1 Hz = 60 RPM = 360ยฐ/second = 2ฯ€ radians/second

Note: The Cycles per Second is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Revolutions per Second belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Cycles per Second and Revolutions per Second

Before 1960: "Cycles per second" was the standard term

  • Common abbreviations: c/s, c.p.s., cps, ~/s

1960: Renamed to "hertz" (Hz)

  • Honors Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894)
  • Adopted at 11th CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures)
  • Simplified terminology and standardized notation

Why the change?

  • Shorter, more convenient
  • Honors a pioneering physicist
  • Consistent with other SI units named after scientists (ampere, watt, volt, etc.)
  • International standardization

Common Uses and Applications: cps vs rps

Explore the typical applications for both Cycles per Second (imperial/US) and Revolutions per Second (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for cps

(Historical & Current)

Historical Technical Documents: Pre-1960 radio, electronics, and acoustics literature. Some Fields Still Use "cycles": Audio engineering may say "cycles" colloquially. Education: Teaching frequency concepts before introducing Hz notation. Older Equipment: Vintage test equipment labeled in cps.

When to Use rps

High-Speed Turbines: Gas turbines, steam turbines (hundreds to thousands of RPS). Centrifuges: Ultra-high-speed laboratory and industrial centrifuges. Physics: Rotational dynamics, angular velocity calculations. Machinery: High-speed motors, spindles, grinding wheels.

Additional Unit Information

About Cycles per Second (cps)

Is cps the same as Hz?

Yes, exactly the same:

  • 1 cps = 1 Hz
  • 1 kilocycles per second (kcps or kc/s) = 1 kHz
  • 1 megacycles per second (Mcps or Mc/s) = 1 MHz

Only difference: Terminology and era

  • cps: Used before 1960
  • Hz: Used from 1960 onwards (current standard)

Example conversions:

  • 60 cps = 60 Hz (AC power)
  • 1000 cps = 1 kHz (audio frequency)
  • 100,000 cps = 100 kHz (AM radio range)

cps to Hz converter โ†’

Why was cps changed to hertz?

Reasons for the 1960 change:

  1. Brevity: "Hz" is shorter than "cycles per second"
  2. Honor: Named after Heinrich Hertz who proved electromagnetic wave existence
  3. Standardization: Consistent with ampere, watt, volt, newton, pascal
  4. International: Single symbol understood globally
  5. Simplicity: Easier for metric prefixes (kHz, MHz, GHz vs kcps, Mcps, Gcps)

The change was purely nomenclature - the measurement itself remained identical.

When do I still see "cycles per second"?

Where you might encounter cps:

Historical documents:

  • Pre-1960 radio manuals
  • Vintage audio equipment
  • Old electrical engineering textbooks

Colloquial use:

  • Audio engineers may say "cycles" informally
  • Explaining frequency concepts to beginners
  • When emphasizing the cyclic nature

Vintage equipment:

  • Old oscilloscopes
  • Antique signal generators
  • Historical test equipment

Recommendation: Use Hz in all modern contexts. Only use cps when discussing historical equipment or documents.

How do I convert kc/s (kilocycles per second) to Hz?

Formula: Hz = kc/s ร— 1,000

Examples:

  • 1 kc/s = 1,000 Hz = 1 kHz
  • 10 kc/s = 10,000 Hz = 10 kHz
  • 1000 kc/s = 1,000,000 Hz = 1 MHz

Old radio terminology:

  • AM radio: 550-1600 kc/s = 550-1600 kHz
  • Shortwave: 3-30 Mc/s = 3-30 MHz

kHz to Hz converter โ†’

What is Mc/s (megacycles per second)?

Mc/s = Megacycles per second (historical term)

Modern equivalent: MHz (megahertz)

Conversion: 1 Mc/s = 1 MHz = 1,000,000 Hz

Historical usage:

  • FM radio: 88-108 Mc/s โ†’ now 88-108 MHz
  • VHF TV: 54-216 Mc/s โ†’ now 54-216 MHz
  • Old radio communications

Old abbreviations:

  • Mc/s, Mc, Mcps all meant megacycles per second
  • Now standardized as MHz

MHz to Hz converter โ†’

About Revolutions per Second (rps)

How do I convert RPS to RPM?

Formula: RPM = RPS ร— 60

Examples:

  • 1 RPS = 60 RPM
  • 10 RPS = 600 RPM
  • 120 RPS = 7,200 RPM (hard drive)

Reverse: RPS = RPM รท 60

RPS to RPM converter โ†’

Is RPS the same as Hz?

Yes, numerically: 1 RPS = 1 Hz

Different context:

  • RPS: Rotational motion (spinning, revolving)
  • Hz: General frequency (oscillations, waves, vibrations)

Example:

  • A wheel spinning at 10 RPS = 10 Hz rotational frequency
  • A sound wave at 440 Hz = 440 oscillations per second (not rotation)

RPS to Hz converter โ†’

How do I convert RPS to radians per second?

Formula: rad/s = RPS ร— 2ฯ€

Examples:

  • 1 RPS = 2ฯ€ rad/s โ‰ˆ 6.283 rad/s
  • 10 RPS = 62.83 rad/s
  • 100 RPS = 628.3 rad/s

One full revolution = 2ฯ€ radians = 360 degrees

RPS to rad/s converter โ†’

When should I use RPS instead of RPM?

Use RPS when:

  • High-speed applications (>6,000 RPM = >100 RPS)
  • Physics calculations (frequency, angular velocity)
  • Scientific contexts
  • Values are more convenient (e.g., 120 RPS vs 7,200 RPM)

Use RPM when:

  • Automotive (standard for engines)
  • General machinery
  • Industry standards require RPM
  • Lower speeds (<6,000 RPM)

Both are correct; choose based on convention and convenience.

Conversion Table: Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second

Cycles per Second (cps)Revolutions per Second (rps)
0.50.5
11
1.51.5
22
55
1010
2525
5050
100100
250250
500500
1,0001,000

People Also Ask

How do I convert Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second?

To convert Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second, enter the value in Cycles per Second in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our frequency converter page to convert between other units in this category.

Learn more โ†’

What is the conversion factor from Cycles per Second to Revolutions per Second?

The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Cycles per Second and Revolutions per Second. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.

Can I convert Revolutions per Second back to Cycles per Second?

Yes! You can easily convert Revolutions per Second back to Cycles per Second by using the swap button (โ‡Œ) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Revolutions per Second to Cycles per Second converter page. You can also explore other frequency conversions on our category page.

Learn more โ†’

What are common uses for Cycles per Second and Revolutions per Second?

Cycles per Second and Revolutions per Second are both standard units used in frequency measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our frequency converter for more conversion options.

For more frequency conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.

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๐Ÿ“š How to Convert Units

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๐Ÿ”ข Conversion Formulas

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โš–๏ธ Metric vs Imperial

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โš ๏ธ Common Mistakes

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Other Frequency Units and Conversions

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Verified Against Authority Standards

All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.

NIST Reference on Constants, Units and Uncertainty

National Institute of Standards and Technology โ€” Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions

BIPM SI Units

Bureau International des Poids et Mesures โ€” International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards

ISO 80000

International Organization for Standardization โ€” Quantities and units international standards series

Last verified: December 3, 2025