Speed Converter

Speed is a measure of how quickly an object moves from one place to another. It is calculated as distance divided by time. Different speed units are used in different contexts and regions around the world.

Common Speed Units

• Meters per Second (m/s): The SI unit of speed, commonly used in physics and scientific contexts.
• Kilometers per Hour (km/h): Used for vehicle speeds in most countries.
• Miles per Hour (mph): Used for vehicle speeds in the US, UK, and some other countries.
• Feet per Second (ft/s): Used in some engineering applications in the US.
• Knots (kn): Used in maritime and aviation contexts. 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour.
• Mach: Used for aircraft speeds, where Mach 1 is the speed of sound (approximately 343 m/s at sea level).

Conversion Formulas

To convert between speed units, you need to know the conversion factors. Here are some common conversions:

• To convert from km/h to mph: multiply by 0.621371
• To convert from m/s to km/h: multiply by 3.6
• To convert from mph to ft/s: multiply by 1.46667
• To convert from knots to km/h: multiply by 1.852

Applications

Speed measurements are used in many fields:

• Transportation (vehicle speeds, speed limits)
• Physics (motion studies, relativity)
• Sports (running, cycling, swimming speeds)
• Aviation and maritime navigation
• Meteorology (wind speeds)

Interesting Facts

• The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.
• The fastest recorded human running speed is about 12.4 m/s (44.7 km/h or 27.8 mph).
• The term "knot" comes from the practice of counting knots in a rope that was thrown overboard to measure a ship's speed.