Angular Velocity Converter

About Angular Velocity

Angular velocity is the measure of the rotation or revolution of an object with respect to some other point, typically measured in radians per second. It plays a vital role in rotational dynamics, motors, gyroscopes, and celestial mechanics.

• rad/s – SI derived unit of angular velocity.
• RPM (revolutions per minute) – Mechanical and automotive applications common.
• °/s – Useful when working with angular motion in degrees.
• Hz / cycles per second – Complete rotations per second (1 Hz = 2π rad/s).

Angular Velocity Units

The physical quantity of angular velocity is a measure of how fast an object revolves or rotates in relation to some other point, usually quantified in terms of angle per unit of time. It's a metric that is used in mechanics, robotics, astronomy, and engineering for describing rotational motion. Here is an overview of the most common units of measurement for angular velocity in scientific and everyday usage.

SI and Metric Angular Units

• Radian per second (rad/s): It is the SI derived unit of angular velocity. One radian per second implies that the object rotates through one radian every second. It is very common in physics, engineering, and control systems.
• Radian per minute (rad/min): It is an angular velocity measure using radians per minute. It's appropriate for use in applications with slower or longer-term rotation where per-second granularity is not required.

Degree-Based Angular Units

• Degree per second (°/s): A unit commonly used in navigation, robotics, and gyroscope applications. It measures the rate of rotation in degrees, giving a more intuitive feeling of rotation for angles less than a full circle.
• Degree per minute (°/min): The same as degrees per second, except that it is used when the rotation speed is relatively low, i.e., in environmental monitoring systems or mechanical systems moving at slow speeds.

Rotational Frequency Units

• Revolution per second (rps): This unit measures the number of complete 360° revolutions per second. It's widely used in high-speed devices such as turbines, motors, and disk drives.
• Revolution per minute (rpm): One of the most used units in engineering practice, especially in automotive and mechanical engineering. RPM measures the number of revolutions per minute and is most frequently used in engine speeds and machine tools.
• Revolution per hour (rph): A less common unit that is used in systems with very slow rotation, e.g., astronomical equipment or large observation equipment.

Frequency-Based Angular Units

• Cycle per second (cps): Also known as Hertz (Hz), this unit indicates the number of complete cycles or rotations per second. Though replaced by "Hertz," the term CPS can still be seen in older literature and systems.
• Hertz (Hz): The standard unit of frequency that is equivalent to a single cycle per second. Though commonly used to express the frequency of sound or electromagnetic waves, Hz is also used in rotating systems to describe angular velocity when thought of rotationally.

Conclusion

It is necessary to know units of angular velocity for measuring and controlling rotation in theory and practice. From the computation of a motor shaft's rotational speed to the analysis of planet rotation or the programming of robot movement, the application of the correct unit—whether rad/s, rpm, or Hz—keeps your work clear and accurate.