Let fefe represents the electrical frequency and fmfm represents the mechanical

frequency and PpPp represents the number of pole pairs.

Now, consider an alternator with PpPp number of pole pairs wound on it’s rotor (be it
salient or non-salient type poles !!! ) and let the stator windings are 3 phase windings
(star or delta as our wish !!!).
Then, when there is only one pole pair (i.e. Pp=1Pp=1or two poles i.e. one N and one S
pole produced by DC current in rotor winding), one rotation of excited rotor will induce
one cycle of AC voltage in stator’s 3 phase winding (This can be understood by Fleming’s
right hand rule and can be seen visually on CRO screen).
In this case, we can say mechanical frequency of rotor (i.e. speed of rotor in rps (i.e.
rotations per second or Hertz (Hz))) is equal to electrical frequency (i.e. frequency of
induced AC voltage in stator in cycles per second i.e. Hertz) i.e. we can
say fm=fefm=fewhen Pp=1Pp=1
When there are two pole pairs i.e. Pp=2Pp=2 or 4 poles (2 N and 2 S poles produced in
N-S-N-S sequence), we observe that half rotation of the rotor will complete one cyle of
AC induced voltage in stator winding OR one rotation of rotor induces two cycles of AC
voltage in stator winding.
Hence, we can say when, Pp=2Pp=2, fm=fe/2fm=fe/2
Similarly, as the number of pole pairs increases, we observe fm=fe/Ppfm=fe/Pp
Now, if ‘pp’ is the number of both N and S poles collectively, we can
write Pp=p/2Pp=p/2(since one pole pair means one N and one S pole) .
Hence, in terms of number of poles, we can write fm=2fe/pfm=2fe/p
The point to note here is that, in above formula both fefe and fmfm have a same unit i.e.
Hertz which means cycles per second.
When ‘fefe’ is expressed in Hertz and we want ‘fmfm’ in RPM then,
fm(RPM)=60×fm(Hertz)fm(RPM)=60×fm(Hertz)
i.e. fm(RPM)=60×(2fe/p)fm(RPM)=60×(2fe/p) where ‘fefe’ is in Hertz)
i.e. fm(RPM)=120fe/pfm(RPM)=120fe/p where ‘fefe’ is expressed in Hertz)
Interpretation of the formula for generator:
The alternator’s rotor with ‘pp’ number of N and S poles mount on it rotating at a speed
of ‘fmfm’ hertz or ‘60fm60fm’ RPM speed will produce a rotating magnetic field (whose
rotation’s speed is same as the rotor’s speed) and this will induce an AC voltage of
frequency ‘fefe’ Hertz in 3 phase stator’s windings.
Interpretation of the formula for motor:
When, the motor’s 3-phase stator with ‘pp’ number of N and S poles per phase (created
by winding in its stator part) is given a balanced 3 phase AC supply of ‘fefe’ Hertz will
generate a rotating magnetic field which would rotate at a speed of ‘fmfm’ Hertz or
‘60fm60fm’ RPM speed or ‘120fe/p120fe/p’ RPM speed .
Read Concept of Electrical and Mechanical Angles & Synchronous Speed for better
explanation.