Frame rate facts for kids
Frame rate is a way to describe how smooth a video or animation looks. It tells you how many single pictures, called frames, are shown every second. We measure it in frames per second, or FPS. The higher the FPS, the smoother the motion appears to your eyes.
Frame Rate in Movies
When movies first started, silent films were shown at different speeds, usually between 16 and 24 frames per second. Later, this speed increased a bit. When movies started having sound, 24 FPS became the standard. This speed was chosen because it worked well for both the picture and the sound. It also helped make sure movies looked consistent in different theaters.
Frame Rate in Video Games
Video games often use a frame rate of 60 frames per second. This is a popular speed because many computer monitors can display images at that rate, which is called their refresh rate. Some games can even run at much higher frame rates, like 144 FPS or 240 FPS, if your monitor can handle it.
If a game's frame rate is higher than your monitor's refresh rate, your screen might not be able to show all the frames. This can sometimes cause a problem called screen tearing, where parts of two different frames appear on the screen at the same time, making the picture look broken.
Images for kids
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This video shows a low frame rate.
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This video has a much higher frame rate, making it look smoother.
See also
In Spanish: Fotogramas por segundo para niños
