The frequency of 20 Hz corresponds to a period of 50,000 microseconds (µs). This means one cycle of a 20 Hz wave takes 50,000 microseconds to complete.
Frequency (Hz) and period (microseconds) are inversely related quantities; as frequency increases, the period decreases. The period represents the duration of one complete cycle of the wave, measured here in microseconds.
Conversion Tool
Result in microseconds:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert frequency in hertz (Hz) to period in microseconds (µs) is:
Period (µs) = 1,000,000 ÷ Frequency (Hz)
This works because frequency is the number of cycles per second. One second equals 1,000,000 microseconds. Dividing the total microseconds in one second by the frequency, gives the time duration of one cycle in microseconds.
Example calculation for 20 Hz:
- One second = 1,000,000 µs
- Frequency = 20 Hz means 20 cycles per second
- Period = 1,000,000 µs / 20 = 50,000 µs per cycle
Conversion Example
- Frequency: 5 Hz
- 1,000,000 µs / 5 = 200,000 µs
- One cycle takes 200,000 microseconds
- Frequency: 10 Hz
- 1,000,000 µs / 10 = 100,000 µs
- Duration of each cycle is 100,000 microseconds
- Frequency: 50 Hz
- 1,000,000 µs / 50 = 20,000 µs
- Each cycle spans 20,000 microseconds
- Frequency: 100 Hz
- 1,000,000 µs / 100 = 10,000 µs
- One cycle duration is 10,000 microseconds
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows frequency values from -5.0 to 45.0 Hz and their corresponding periods in microseconds. Negative frequencies don’t have physical meaning here, but they included to match the range requested. To use the chart, find the frequency value in the left column and read the period in microseconds on the right.
| Frequency (Hz) | Period (µs) |
|---|---|
| -5.0 | -200000.0000 |
| 0.0 | Infinity |
| 5.0 | 200000.0000 |
| 10.0 | 100000.0000 |
| 15.0 | 66666.6667 |
| 20.0 | 50000.0000 |
| 25.0 | 40000.0000 |
| 30.0 | 33333.3333 |
| 35.0 | 28571.4286 |
| 40.0 | 25000.0000 |
| 45.0 | 22222.2222 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How long in microseconds does one cycle last at 20 Hz?
- What is the period of a 20 Hz signal expressed in microseconds?
- Can 20 Hz frequency be converted to microseconds? How?
- Why does a 20 Hz frequency equal 50,000 microseconds period?
- How to calculate microseconds from a 20 Hz frequency?
- Is 50,000 microseconds the exact duration for a 20 Hz wave cycle?
- What formula should I use to convert 20 Hz to microseconds?
Conversion Definitions
Hertz (Hz): Hertz measures the frequency of a repeating event per second. One Hertz equals one cycle or occurrence of the event in one second. It applies to waves, oscillations, or any periodic phenomena. The unit hertz quantifies how many times the event repeats within each second.
Microseconds (µs): Microseconds are a unit of time equal to one millionth of a second (10⁻⁶ seconds). It measures very short durations common in electronics, signal processing, and wave periods. The microsecond allows detail timing much finer than milliseconds or seconds.
Conversion FAQs
What happens if frequency is zero when converting to microseconds?
If frequency is zero, the period becomes undefined because dividing by zero is mathematically impossible. This means no cycles per second exist, so the duration of one cycle can’t be determined.
Can frequency values below zero have meaning in this conversion?
Negative frequency doesn’t represent a real physical cycle rate. It may appear in math or signal processing, but for time duration calculations, negative frequencies don’t produce meaningful microsecond values.
Why use 1,000,000 in the conversion formula?
1,000,000 represents the number of microseconds in one second (since 1 second = 1,000,000 microseconds). Frequency is cycles per second, so dividing microseconds per second by cycles per second gives microseconds per cycle.
Is this conversion valid for all types of waves?
The conversion applies for periodic waves where frequency and period are well-defined. For irregular or non-periodic signals, the concept of period might not be applicable.
How precise is the period when calculated from frequency?
Precision depends on the input frequency accuracy and rounding. The formula provides an exact mathematical relation, but measurement or rounding errors can affect practical precision.