Abstract: A method and apparatus are described, for measuring the angular velocity of a measuring body. In accordance with the present invention, the distance of the measuring body from a sensor varies periodically as the body is rotated, whereby the sensor emits a distance signal dependent on the distance, which distance signal is converted to a frequency-dependent signal in a converter circuit to determine angular velocity in a higher rpm region. To determine the angular velocity (or rpm) in a lower rpm region, the derivative of continuously varying distance between the sensor and a surface or partial surface of the measuring body is employed. In this way it is possible to measure rpm over a wide range down practically to zero.