Understanding Speed Conversions
Speed measures how quickly an object changes its position. It's typically expressed as distance traveled per unit of time. Common systems include the Metric System (using meters per second (m/s) and kilometers per hour (km/h)) and the Imperial/US Customary System (using miles per hour (mph) and feet per second (ft/s)). Specialized units like knots are used in maritime and aviation contexts.
This converter helps you easily switch between these units. Whether you're analyzing driving speeds, calculating travel times, or working on physics problems, accurate speed conversion is useful.
Common Speed Units
- Meter per second (m/s): The base unit of speed in the Metric system (derived SI unit).
- Kilometer per hour (km/h): Commonly used worldwide for road speeds.
- Mile per hour (mph): Standard unit for road speeds in the US, UK, and some other countries.
- Foot per second (ft/s): Used in some engineering and physics applications.
- Knot (kn): A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour (approximately 1.151 mph or 1.852 km/h), used in maritime and aviation.
- Mach: Represents the speed of sound in a given medium. Mach 1 is the speed of sound (approx. 343 m/s or 767 mph in dry air at sea level).
Frequently Asked Questions about Speed
How many kilometers per hour are in a mile per hour?
There are approximately 1.60934 kilometers per hour in 1 mile per hour. To convert mph to km/h, multiply by 1.60934.
How do I convert kilometers per hour to miles per hour?
To convert km/h to mph, multiply the speed in km/h by 0.621371. For example, 100 km/h is approximately 62.14 mph.
What is a knot equivalent to in mph?
One knot is equal to approximately 1.15078 miles per hour. Knots are based on nautical miles.
How do I convert meters per second to miles per hour?
To convert m/s to mph, multiply the speed in m/s by 2.23694. For example, 10 m/s is approximately 22.37 mph.
How fast is Mach 1?
Mach 1 is the speed of sound, which varies with temperature and altitude. At sea level and 20°C (68°F), it's about 343 meters per second, 1,235 kilometers per hour, or 767 miles per hour.
What's the difference between speed and velocity?
Speed is a scalar quantity describing how fast an object is moving. Velocity is a vector quantity describing both speed and direction.
How do I convert feet per second to miles per hour?
To convert ft/s to mph, multiply the speed in ft/s by 0.681818. For example, 50 ft/s is approximately 34.09 mph.
What is the standard speed limit unit used globally?
Kilometers per hour (km/h) is the most common unit used for road speed limits worldwide. Miles per hour (mph) is primarily used in the US, UK, and a few other countries.
How fast is light speed in common units?
The speed of light in a vacuum (c) is exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. This is approximately 1,079,252,849 km/h or 670,616,629 mph.
How do I calculate average speed?
Average speed is calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the total time taken. Ensure units are consistent (e.g., miles divided by hours gives mph).