Hertz Hertz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the derived unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI) and is defined as one cycle per second. It is named for Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, the first person to provide conclusive proof of the existence of electromagnetic waves. Hertz are commonly expressed in multiples: kilohertz (10 Hz, kHz), megahertz (10 Hz, MHz), gigahertz (10 Hz, GHz), terahertz (10 Hz, THz), petahertz (10 Hz, PHz), and exahertz (10 Hz, EHz). Some of the unit's most common uses are in the description of sine waves and musical tones, particularly those used in radio- and
2019 redefinition of SI base units countries adhering to the Metre Convention". The recommendations based on this mandate were presented to the 11th CGPM (1960) where they were formally accepted and given the name """ and its abbreviation "SI". Changing the underlying principles behind the definition of the SI base units is not without precedent. The 11th CGPM (1960) defined the SI metre in terms of the wavelength of krypton-86 radiation, replacing the pre-SI metre bar. The 13th CGPM (1967) replaced the original definition of the second (which was based on Earth's average rotation during 1750–1892) with a definition based on the frequency of the radiation