Speed Converter
Convert between different units of speed and velocity measurement including meters per second, kilometers per hour, miles per hour, knots, Mach, and more. Perfect for physics, engineering, and transportation calculations.
Common Speed Conversions
🏃 Speed vs Velocity
Speed: Magnitude of velocity, always positive (scalar)
Velocity: Speed with direction, can be negative (vector)
Average Speed: Total distance / total time
Instantaneous Speed: Speed at a specific moment
✈️ Mach Numbers & Supersonic Flight
Subsonic: Mach < 1 (below speed of sound)
Transonic: Mach 0.8-1.2 (around sound barrier)
Supersonic: Mach 1-5 (1-5 times speed of sound)
Hypersonic: Mach > 5 (above 5 times speed of sound)
Note: Speed of sound varies with altitude and temperature
🌊 Maritime & Aviation Units
Knot: 1 nautical mile per hour = 1.852 km/h
Nautical Mile: 1/60 of degree of latitude ≈ 1852 m
Statute Mile: 5280 feet = 1609.34 m
Why Knots? Based on Earth circumference for navigation
🚀 Cosmic & Escape Velocities
First Cosmic Velocity: 7.9 km/s (Low Earth orbit)
Second Cosmic Velocity: 11.2 km/s (Escape Earth gravity)
Third Cosmic Velocity: 16.7 km/s (Escape solar system)
Earth Orbital Speed: 29.8 km/s (around Sun)
🔬 Physics Applications
Kinematics: v = Δx/Δt, a = Δv/Δt
Relativistic Effects: Significant near speed of light
Doppler Effect: Frequency shift due to relative motion
Terminal Velocity: Maximum speed in fluid medium
💡 Fun Speed Facts
Furlong per Fortnight: 1.66 × 10⁻⁴ m/s (humorous unit)
Fastest Human: ~12 m/s (Usain Bolt, 100m sprint)
Cheetah: ~30 m/s (top speed)
Hummingbird: ~15 m/s (in flight)
Share This Tool
Found this tool helpful? Share it with others who might benefit from it!
💡 Help others discover useful tools! Sharing helps us keep these tools free and accessible to everyone.