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Revolutions per Second (rps) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:rps
Plural:rps
Category:Frequency

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What is a Revolutions per Second?

RPS (revolutions per second) measures rotational speed as the number of complete rotations in one second. Equal to hertz (Hz) for rotational motion. Used for high-speed machinery, turbines, and physics calculations.

History of the Revolutions per Second

Direct measurement of rotational frequency. Mathematically equivalent to hertz, but RPS emphasizes rotational context while Hz is general frequency. Used in engineering and physics for high-speed rotating systems.

Quick Answer

What is RPS? RPS (revolutions per second) measures rotational speed as complete rotations in one second. 1 RPS = 1 Hz = 60 RPM. Used for high-speed turbines, centrifuges, and machinery where per-second measurement is more convenient than RPM. 1 RPS = 1 Hz = 60 RPM. Use our frequency converter for instant conversions.

Definition

1 RPS = 1 revolution per second = 1 Hz = 60 RPM = 360°/second = 2π radians/second

Common Uses

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.

Real-World Examples

Industrial Applications

Gas Turbines:

  • Small turbines: 500-1,000 RPS (30,000-60,000 RPM)
  • Aircraft engines: 200-400 RPS (12,000-24,000 RPM)
  • Power generation: 50-100 RPS (3,000-6,000 RPM)

Centrifuges:

  • Ultra-centrifuge: 500-1,500 RPS (30,000-90,000 RPM)
  • Industrial separator: 50-200 RPS (3,000-12,000 RPM)

Machine Tools:

  • CNC spindle: 100-400 RPS (6,000-24,000 RPM)
  • Dental drill: 300-600 RPS (18,000-36,000 RPM)
  • Grinding wheel: 50-200 RPS (3,000-12,000 RPM)

Everyday Objects (converted to RPS)

  • Hard drive (7,200 RPM): 120 RPS
  • Washing machine spin: 15-25 RPS (900-1,500 RPM)
  • Car engine idle (800 RPM): 13.3 RPS
  • Car engine redline (7,000 RPM): 116.7 RPS

Revolutions per Second Conversion Formulas

To Hertz:

1 rps = 1 Hz
Example: 5 rps = 5 hertz

To Millihertz:

1 rps = 1000 mHz
Example: 5 rps = 5000 millihertz

To Kilohertz:

1 rps = 0.001 kHz
Example: 5 rps = 0.005 kilohertz

To Megahertz:

1 rps = 0.000001 MHz
Example: 5 rps = 0.000005 megahertz

To Gigahertz:

1 rps = 1.0000e-9 GHz
Example: 5 rps = 5.0000e-9 gigahertz

To Terahertz:

1 rps = 1.0000e-12 THz
Example: 5 rps = 5.0000e-12 terahertz

To Revolutions per Minute:

1 rps = 60 rpm
Example: 5 rps = 300 rpm

To Beats per Minute:

1 rps = 60 bpm
Example: 5 rps = 300 bpm

To Cycles per Second:

1 rps = 1 cps
Example: 5 rps = 5 cps

To Radians per Second:

1 rps = 6.283185 rad/s
Example: 5 rps = 31.415927 rad/s

Frequently Asked Questions

Formula: RPM = RPS × 60 Examples:

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Revolutions per Second Quick Info

rps
Symbol:rps
Category:Frequency
System:Various
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