Gigahertz (GHz)
The gigahertz, symbol GHz, equals one billion hertz and is primarily used in computing, radio astronomy, and high-speed communications. Following the widespread use of megahertz, advances in electronics in the late 20th century led to a need for units that could measure extremely high frequencies, resulting in the adoption of gigahertz. Today, it is commonly used to describe CPU clock speeds, satellite transmissions, and microwave signals. The gigahertz unit exemplifies the metric system’s scalability, allowing engineers and scientists to work with ultra-fast oscillations efficiently and accurately.
Hertz (Hz)
The hertz (Hz) is the internationally recognized unit for measuring frequency, representing one cycle occurring each second. The unit honors Heinrich Hertz, a pioneering German physicist who, in the late 1800s, experimentally confirmed the presence of electromagnetic waves. Since its adoption, the hertz has served as the fundamental standard for tracking repeating events in fields such as physics, engineering, radio, and telecommunications. Its use streamlines the measurement and comparison of various oscillating phenomena, ensuring consistency across scientific and technical disciplines.