How to convert speed units | m/s, km/h, mph, knots, fps

Most commonly used units of speed

Understanding units of speed is important for expressing and comparing the rate of movement or change in position.The following are key speed units:

1. Meter per Second (m/s):
   • The SI unit for speed.
   • Represents the distance traveled in meters per second.
2. Kilometer per Hour (km/h):
   • Commonly used in everyday contexts.
   • Represents the distance traveled in kilometers per hour.
3. Miles per Hour (mph):
   • Commonly used in countries that follow the imperial system.
   • Represents the distance traveled in miles per hour.
4. Knots:
   • Primarily used in navigation and aviation.
   • Represents nautical miles per hour.
5. Feet per Second (fps):
   • Used in engineering and physics contexts.
   • Represents the distance traveled in feet per second.

Converting units of speed between scales

Converting speed units involves converting from one unit to another using conversion factors. Here are the conversions between some common speed units:

1. Meter per second (m/s):
   • 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h
   • 1 m/s ≈ 2.237 mph
   • 1 m/s ≈ 1.944 knots
   • 1 m/s ≈ 3.281 fps (feet per second)
2. Kilometer per hour (km/h):
   • 1 km/h ≈ 0.2778 m/s
   • 1 km/h ≈ 0.6214 mph
   • 1 km/h ≈ 0.5396 knots
   • 1 km/h ≈ 0.9113 fps
3. Miles per hour (mph):
   • 1 mph ≈ 0.447 m/s
   • 1 mph ≈ 1.609 km/h
   • 1 mph ≈ 0.8689 knots
   • 1 mph ≈ 1.467 fps
4. Knots:
   • 1 knot ≈ 0.5144 m/s
   • 1 knot ≈ 1.852 km/h
   • 1 knot ≈ 1.1508 mph
   • 1 knot ≈ 1.6878 fps
5. Feet per second (fps):
   • 1 fps ≈ 0.3048 m/s
   • 1 fps ≈ 1.097 km/h
   • 1 fps ≈ 0.6818 mph
   • 1 fps ≈ 0.5925 knots