The World Book Bonus Science Reference

Kilohertz

Kilohertz, pronounced KIHL uh hurts, is a unit used to measure the frequency of many kinds of vibrations and waves, such as radio and sound waves. Its symbol is kHz. One kilohertz equals 1,000 hertz (cycles per second).

The waves sent out by one radio or television station differ in frequency from those transmitted by others. Thus, a tuner of a radio or TV may be adjusted to receive individual stations. The numbers on a dial of the tuner represent frequency. For example, an AM station heard at 780 on the dial--sometimes labeled 78 or 7.8--broadcasts at a frequency of 780 kHz.

Contributor: Hugh D. Young, Ph.D., Prof. of Physics, Carnegie-Mellon Univ.

See also Frequency Band; Short Waves.

 

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