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Mile per hour to Mach number Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool

Convert miles per hour to Mach numbers with our free online speed converter.

Mile per hour to Mach number Calculator

Mile per hour
Mach number

How to Use the Calculator:

  1. Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mile per hour).
  2. The converted value in Mach number will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
  3. Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Speed category.
  4. Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.

How to Convert Mile per hour to Mach number

Converting Mile per hour to Mach number involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.

Formula:

1 Mile per hour = 0.00130332 Mach numbers

Example Calculation:

Convert 60 miles per hour: 60 × 0.00130332 = 0.0781994 Mach numbers

Disclaimer: For Reference Only

These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.

Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.

What is a Mile per hour and a Mach number?

Miles per hour (mph, MPH, or mi/h) is an imperial and US customary unit of speed expressing the number of statute miles traveled in one hour.

The Mach number (M or Ma) is a dimensionless quantity in fluid dynamics representing the ratio of flow velocity past a boundary to the local speed of sound. It is named after Austrian physicist and philosopher Ernst Mach.

Note: The Mile per hour is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Mach number belongs to the imperial/US customary system.

History of the Mile per hour and Mach number

Miles per hour became prominent with the rise of automotive transportation in countries using the imperial system, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States. It provided a practical measure for road travel speeds and regulations.

The term "Mach number" was proposed by Swiss aeronautical engineer Jakob Ackeret in 1929. It gained prominence during World War II with the development of high-speed aircraft. The sound barrier (Mach 1) was famously broken by Chuck Yeager in 1947.

Common Uses for miles per hour and Mach numbers

Explore the typical applications for both Mile per hour (imperial/US) and Mach number (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.

Common Uses for miles per hour

  • Road Traffic (US/UK): The standard unit for speed limits and vehicle speeds (speedometers) in the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other countries.
  • Rail Transport (US/UK): Often used for train speeds in these same countries.
  • Meteorology (Informal): Sometimes used informally in the US/UK for wind speed in public weather reports, though knots or m/s are preferred in official meteorological contexts.
  • Sports: Used in some sports like baseball (pitch speed) and sometimes informally in running or cycling in relevant countries.

Common Uses for Mach numbers

  • Aerospace: Describing the speed of aircraft and spacecraft relative to the speed of sound (subsonic, transonic, supersonic, hypersonic).
  • Fluid Dynamics: Analyzing high-speed flows in wind tunnels, jet engines, and rocket nozzles.
  • Ballistics: Characterizing the speed of projectiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions About Mile per hour (mph)

Which countries use mph for speed limits?

Miles per hour is primarily used for road speed limits in the United States, the United Kingdom, and some Caribbean nations.

Is mph an SI unit?

No, mph is part of the imperial and US customary systems. The SI unit for speed is meters per second (m/s).

How do you convert mph to km/h?

Multiply the speed in mph by 1.60934. So, 60 mph is approximately 96.6 km/h.

How do you convert mph to ft/s?

Multiply the speed in mph by 1.46667. So, 60 mph is approximately 88 ft/s.

About Mach number (Mach)

What does Mach 1 mean?

Mach 1 represents the speed of sound in the surrounding medium under specific conditions (temperature, pressure, altitude). At standard sea level conditions (15°C and 1 atm), Mach 1 is approximately 343 meters per second (1,235 km/h; 767 mph).

Is the speed of Mach 1 constant?

No, the speed of sound varies primarily with temperature. It decreases at higher altitudes where the air is colder. Therefore, the actual speed corresponding to Mach 1 changes with altitude and atmospheric conditions.

What are the different speed regimes related to Mach number?

  • Subsonic: M < 0.8
  • Transonic: 0.8 ≤ M < 1.2
  • Supersonic: 1.2 ≤ M < 5
  • Hypersonic: M ≥ 5

Conversion Table: Mile per hour to Mach number

Mile per hour (mph)Mach number (Mach)
10.001
50.007
100.013
250.033
500.065
1000.13
5000.652
1,0001.303

All Speed Conversions

Meter per second to Kilometer per hourMeter per second to Mile per hourMeter per second to Foot per secondMeter per second to KnotMeter per second to Mach numberMeter per second to Speed of lightKilometer per hour to Meter per secondKilometer per hour to Mile per hourKilometer per hour to Foot per secondKilometer per hour to KnotKilometer per hour to Mach numberKilometer per hour to Speed of lightMile per hour to Meter per secondMile per hour to Kilometer per hourMile per hour to Foot per secondMile per hour to KnotMile per hour to Speed of lightFoot per second to Meter per secondFoot per second to Kilometer per hourFoot per second to Mile per hourFoot per second to KnotFoot per second to Mach numberFoot per second to Speed of lightKnot to Meter per secondKnot to Kilometer per hourKnot to Mile per hourKnot to Foot per secondKnot to Mach numberKnot to Speed of lightMach number to Meter per secondMach number to Kilometer per hourMach number to Mile per hourMach number to Foot per secondMach number to KnotMach number to Speed of lightSpeed of light to Meter per secondSpeed of light to Kilometer per hourSpeed of light to Mile per hourSpeed of light to Foot per secondSpeed of light to KnotSpeed of light to Mach number

Other Units from Speed

Conversion Formula

1 mph = 0.001303 Mach

Where 1 Mile per hour (mph) equals the calculated value in Mach numbers (Mach).